Vaccinations
This is the schedule I follow at my clinic. It follows the Ministry of Health’s National Immunisation Programme (Program Imunisasi Kebangsaan), and adds a few extra vaccines I recommend for extra protection. The first table below is the Ministry of Health programme, free at any government clinic (Klinik Kesihatan). The second is the optional vaccines I offer at ParkCity Medical Centre.
National Immunisation Programme
Free at Klinik Kesihatan| Vaccine | Your child's age in months | In years | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 7 | 12 | 15 | |
| BCG | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Hepatitis Bmonovalent, birth dose | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Hep B, DTaP, Hib, Polio (IPV)6-in-1 combination | 1 | 2 | 3 | B | |||||||||||
| Pneumococcal (PCV) | 1 | 2 | B | ||||||||||||
| Measles*Sabah only | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| MMRmeasles, mumps, rubella | 1 | 2 | |||||||||||||
| DTdiphtheria, tetanus | B | ||||||||||||||
| OPVoral polio, given only if advised | |||||||||||||||
| HPVgirls, Year 6 at school | Girls | ||||||||||||||
| Tetanus (TT) | B | ||||||||||||||
| Japanese encephalitis†Sarawak only | 1 | B | |||||||||||||
Optional vaccines
Outside the free programmeThis schedule is a guide. The number of doses can depend on the vaccine brand and on your child.
Source: Ministry of Health Malaysia National Immunisation Programme.
Influenza is given as two priming doses at 7 and 8 months, then a single dose yearly.
Malaysia’s free schedule at a glance
Birth: BCG and Hepatitis B (first dose)
2 months: 6-in-1 (first dose)
3 months: 6-in-1 (second dose)
4 months: Pneumococcal (first dose)
5 months: 6-in-1 (third dose)
6 months: Pneumococcal (second dose). Sabah: measles
9 months: MMR (first dose). Sarawak: Japanese encephalitis (first dose)
12 months: MMR (second dose)
15 months: Pneumococcal booster
18 months: 6-in-1 booster
21 months: Sarawak: Japanese encephalitis booster
7 years (Year 1): DT booster, given at school
12 years (Year 6): HPV for girls, given at school
15 years: Tetanus booster
The 6-in-1 covers diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis), polio, Hib and Hepatitis B.
All vaccines used are registered and approved by Malaysia’s National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA). Keep your child’s health record book (buku rekod kesihatan) safe. It is needed for primary school registration.
These vaccines sit outside the free programme, but I recommend them for fuller protection. They are included in my schedule above. Whether your child needs each one depends on age, travel, and your family, so we will talk it through together.
Rotavirus. Oral drops at 2 and 3 months. Protects against a common cause of severe diarrhoea and dehydration in babies.
Meningococcal. Protects against meningococcal disease, including meningitis and blood infection.
Influenza (flu). Two priming doses, then yearly. Useful from infancy onwards.
Chickenpox (varicella). Prevents chickenpox, which is usually mild but can lead to skin infections and pneumonia in some children.
Hepatitis A. Protects the liver from hepatitis A, which spreads through contaminated food and water.
Typhoid. Worth considering, especially with travel.
If you are asking about other vaccines, like HPV for boys, dengue, or COVID-19, bring it up at your appointment and we will see what fits your child.
Most children are completely fine. Some have a mild reaction, and that is the immune system doing its job.
Usually normal (settles in a day or two):
A mild fever.
Redness, swelling, or soreness where the needle went in.
A bit more sleepy, fussy, or off their food.
A cuddle, fluids, and rest go a long way. Use paracetamol only if your doctor has advised it, at the right dose for your child’s weight.
Come and see a doctor if:
A baby under 3 months has any fever.
A fever stays high and will not come down.
Your child has a fit (seizure).
They are unusually floppy, drowsy, or hard to wake.
There is swelling of the face or lips, or trouble breathing. This is a rare allergic reaction and needs urgent care.
Serious reactions are very rare. We watch for them, and we are here if you are worried.
Wanting to understand before you agree is good parenting, not a red flag. So here are the honest answers to the worries I hear most.
The autism worry.
The single study that suggested a link between MMR and autism was found to be fraudulent and was withdrawn. Since then, research across millions of children has found no link. None.
The ingredients worry.
What is in a vaccine is present in tiny, tested amounts, and each one is there for a reason. Your child meets far more of these substances in everyday life than in a jab.
The “too many at once” worry.
Combination vaccines mean fewer needles, not more risk. A baby’s immune system handles many challenges every single day. A few vaccines together is well within its stride.
Vaccines are among the most studied medicines we have. If you are still unsure, that is completely okay. Come and talk to me. We will work through it, no pressure.
What vaccines does my baby get in Malaysia, and when?
Under the Ministry of Health’s National Immunisation Programme, babies get BCG and Hepatitis B at birth, the 6-in-1 at 2, 3 and 5 months, pneumococcal at 4 and 6 months, and MMR at 9 and 12 months. More doses follow at 15 and 18 months, then at school age: DT at 7, HPV for girls in Year 6, and a tetanus booster at 15. The full table is above.
Which vaccines are free, and which are optional?
Everything in the National Immunisation Programme is free for Malaysian children at government clinics (Klinik Kesihatan). Optional vaccines such as rotavirus, flu, meningococcal, chickenpox, Hepatitis A and typhoid are not in the free programme, so they are paid for at private clinics. The school-age doses are given at school. At my clinic you can have the free-programme and optional vaccines in one place.
What extra vaccines should my baby get in Malaysia?
The ones I discuss most with parents are rotavirus, flu, meningococcal, chickenpox and Hepatitis A. Rotavirus comes first: it is oral drops at 2 and 3 months, and it has an age limit, so ask about it early. Which extras suit your child depends on age, health and travel, and we will decide together.
What vaccines are given at 7 years old?
At 7 (Year 1), children get a DT (diphtheria and tetanus) booster, usually at school from the Ministry of Health’s school health team. If your child missed it, bring the health record book and we will catch up.
My child missed some doses. Is it too late?
Usually not. A missed dose rarely means starting the series again. A few vaccines, like rotavirus, have an age limit, so come in soon rather than waiting. Bring the health record book and we will catch up safely from wherever your child is.
Can I walk in for a vaccination in KL?
At my clinic, vaccinations are by appointment, so please book first or WhatsApp us. That way your child’s vaccines are ready and the wait stays short. For free-programme vaccines at a Klinik Kesihatan, check with your local clinic on how they run it.
My child has a runny nose on vaccination day. Should I cancel?
A mild cold, with no fever, is usually fine. If your child has a high fever or is clearly unwell, we will often wait a few days. When in doubt, message us and we will guide you.
Can I space out or delay the vaccines?
The schedule is timed to protect your child at the ages they are most vulnerable. Delaying leaves a window where they are unprotected. If you have concerns about timing, come and talk to me rather than skipping. We can plan it together.
Does it hurt? How do I comfort my baby?
It is quick, and over fast. Feeding your baby, or a cuddle, during and after the jab genuinely helps. For older children, staying calm yourself is half the battle.
Are growth checks done at the same visits as the vaccines?
Yes. At each vaccination visit, your baby's weight, length or height, and head circumference are measured and plotted on the WHO growth charts in the Buku Rekod, so protection and growth are tracked together at the same appointment. What matters most is the pattern over time, not a single reading. For a closer look at your child's growth, see my growth check page.
Warm, unhurried care for your child, grounded in evidence and delivered with calm.
18+ years’ experience in paediatrics
Consultant Paediatrician at ParkCity Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur
Calm, evidence-based care
English and Bahasa Melayu
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In-clinic at ParkCity Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur. Calm, unhurried, in English or Bahasa Melayu.
Medically reviewed by Dr Nisa Khalil, Consultant Paediatrician
This page is general education for parents. It is not a diagnosis or a substitute for seeing your doctor, and it carries no outcome guarantees. For advice about your child, please book an in-person consultation. In an emergency, go straight to the nearest emergency department.