Childhood vaccinations: the schedule explained.

The Swiss vaccination schedule, established by the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) and the Federal Commission for Vaccination, defines the vaccines recommended from birth through adolescence. Here is how to make sense of it.

The key stages

The schedule concentrates most vaccinations in the first two years of life: the first doses are given in the first months (diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio, among others), followed by boosters during the first and second year, including the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Then come boosters at school age and in adolescence — a period that is often overlooked even though it includes important vaccinations, such as the one against HPV.

The exact ages and doses evolve regularly with federal recommendations: rather than following a table found online, the most reliable approach is to have your child’s vaccination record checked by their doctor.

Why boosters matter

An incomplete vaccination protects poorly. Boosters are not an administrative formality: they consolidate the immune response and extend protection. A delay is never a dead end, however — it is almost never necessary to start over; the schedule simply resumes where it stopped.

At the practice

At Smart Medical, we vaccinate children and adults, check vaccination records and catch up on missing doses, either during a dedicated consultation or a follow-up visit. Book online or call 026 401 08 09.