Childhood Vaccinations in Cyprus: The Schedule, GESY, Costs and School Rules

Children in Cyprus are vaccinated under the Ministry of Health's National Vaccination Programme for Children and Adolescents. If your child is registered with GESY, their personal doctor (normally a paediatrician) gives the vaccines free of charge; if not, you go to a Ministry Mother and Child Health centre. Schools ask for your child's vaccination record at enrolment, so the most useful thing you can do before you move is pack the full records.

This guide sets out the schedule, where to go, what it costs, what to bring if you are new to Cyprus, and what schools ask for. It is a practical overview, not medical advice: your paediatrician will tailor any catch-up plan to your child.

What is the childhood vaccination schedule in Cyprus?

The Ministry of Health publishes the programme each year (the 2026 edition is linked below). The EU's disease agency, ECDC, summarises it in English in its Vaccine Scheduler. Based on the ECDC's 2026 version for Cyprus and the Ministry's own notices, the routine doses for children are:

A few points to note:

• MMR and chickenpox: the ECDC table shows the first dose at 13 months, while its notes on recent changes mention 12 months. Your paediatrician will tell you which month to book.
• Pneumococcal: Cyprus now uses two infant doses plus a booster at 12 months.
• Hepatitis A, BCG (tuberculosis) and flu at 6 months appear in the schedule only for children with specific indications, such as a medical condition. For the 2026–27 season, though, the Ministry offers the flu vaccine free to everyone from six months old (see our flu vaccine guide).
• Ages 11–12: a School Health Service notice says the whooping cough booster (Tdap) moved from 14–15 to 11–12, and HPV is given at 11–12 to both boys and girls, following advice from the National Advisory Committee on Immunisation.

Schedules change from time to time, so check the current Ministry PDF or ask your paediatrician before each appointment.

Which vaccines should my child have before primary school?

A joint letter to parents from the Ministries of Education and Health recommends that, before starting primary school at around 5 to 6, children have all the doses due for their age of:

1. Diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough
2. Polio
3. Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
4. Hepatitis B
5. Meningococcal C
6. Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
7. Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV)

The letter adds that Hib and pneumococcal vaccines are given from 2 months up to age 5. If your child arrives in Cyprus at 4 or 5 and missed some of these, ask about catch-up doses straight away.

Where do children get vaccinated?

If your child is registered with GESY

Your child's GESY personal doctor, normally a paediatrician, gives all the vaccines in the programme. The Ministry of Health's School Health Service says that since GESY began it no longer vaccinates in schools, so the paediatrician is your main route. Book each vaccine as a normal appointment and take the vaccination card or health booklet so the doctor can record the dose.

If you have just arrived, register your child with GESY and choose a paediatrician first. Our guide to GESY in Cyprus explains how to register dependants.

If your child is not registered with GESY

Children who are not GESY beneficiaries are vaccinated at the Ministry of Health's Mother and Child Health centres (in Greek, Κέντρα Μητέρας και Παιδιού). The Ministry's notice lists one per district:

Phone numbers on older Ministry documents differ slightly, so if a number does not answer, ask the hospital switchboard for the Mother and Child Health centre. Call first to ask about opening days and whether you need an appointment.

How much do childhood vaccinations cost?

• Vaccines in the national programme: free for children covered by GESY and for other eligible residents, as the European Commission's Youth Wiki summary of Cyprus health services confirms.
• Doses outside the covered age range: the Ministries' letter notes that the meningococcal C vaccine is charged if a child is outside the age limits GESY covers. The same can apply to other late catch-up doses.
• Vaccines not in the programme: some paediatricians also recommend extra vaccines that are not part of the free schedule. These are a private cost; ask for the price before the appointment.

What should newcomers bring?

Before you move, collect:

• Your child's vaccination card, red book or health booklet, or an official printout from your previous health service with the name of each vaccine and the date of every dose.
• Any records of catch-up doses, travel vaccines or medical reasons for skipping a vaccine.
• Your child's passport or ID, which you will need for GESY registration and appointments.

The Ministry does not mention a translation requirement. If your records are in a language other than Greek or English, ask your paediatrician whether a translation would help, and always bring the originals.

At the first appointment, the paediatrician compares your child's record with the Cyprus programme, records past doses and plans any missing ones. Some vaccines that are routine elsewhere, such as BCG against tuberculosis or the rotavirus vaccine, are not part of the routine Cyprus schedule, so the plan may look different from the one you are used to.

What do schools ask for?

Public schools

When you enrol a child in Year 1 of primary school, the Ministries' letter says you must submit a copy of the vaccination card or the page of the health booklet that shows the child's name and vaccinations. This applies even if your child has had no vaccines. For the full list of enrolment documents, see our guide to enrolling your child in a public school in Cyprus.

Private and international schools

The Ministry of Health's template letter says private schools ask for a Vaccination Coverage Certificate when a child registers, and that public schools follow the same practice. Your paediatrician (or the Mother and Child Health centre) completes it after checking the vaccination card. If your child is only partly vaccinated, the certificate states when the missing vaccines will be given, and you send a new certificate to the school once they are done. Ask your school, and any nursery or kindergarten, which form it needs.

Practical tips for parents

• Book early. As soon as your child has a GESY paediatrician, book a "records check" appointment rather than waiting for the next jab.
• Keep one record. Ask the paediatrician to record every dose in the Cyprus health booklet or card, and photograph each page after each visit.
• Plan around school. Start catch-up doses in the summer before Year 1 so that the school record is complete in September.
• Flu season. The Ministry runs its flu programme in the autumn; ask your paediatrician when children's doses arrive.
• Ask questions. Your paediatrician can explain each vaccine, possible side effects and what to watch for afterwards.

What to do next

1. Register your child with GESY and choose a paediatrician.
2. Book a records check and bring every vaccination document you have.
3. Ask for a Vaccination Coverage Certificate if your child's school needs one.
4. For help with family costs once you are settled, see our guide to child benefit in Cyprus.