Infant & Child Health

COVID-19 Advice for Parents

 

School/Childcare Advice for Parents

For advice for parents on when to keep your child home and call your GP, please click here. 

 

If your child is returning to school/childcare after an absence, they do not require a GP certificate. Please liaise with your school/childcare facility for their specific return to school protocol, as they may require you to complete documentation. 

 

Registering Births during COVID-19

You can now register births online by downloading the form here, and emailing it to births@welfare.ie

 

Immunisations during COVID-19

The Primary Childhood Vaccination Schedule has not changed, please call us on 0402 32421 to schedule your child's vaccination appointment.

 

COVID-19 Resources

Check out the links below for some tips on staying at home during the pandemic.

Under 6s GP Visit Card

 

All children under 6 years of age living in Ireland can get a GP visit card.

 

The under 6s GP visit card covers:

  • free GP visits
  • assessments at age 2 and 5
  • GP home visits
  • out-of-hours urgent GP care
  • care for children with asthma

 

Medication costs and hospital charges are not covered. 

 

Please be aware that free GP care cannot be provided until you have a valid Under 6 card number for your child.  If an application has not been made for your child following their 6 week check all GP visits between the 6 week check and having a valid card number will be charged at the normal rate.

Register Online

Click here to register your child for an Under 6 GP Visit Card.

To register your child you need to provide your:

  • PPS number
  • child's PPS number
  • GP's name 

If you don't have your child's PPS number, contact the Department of Social Protection on LoCall 1890 927 999 or email cis@welfare.ie.

 

If your family already have a GMS card and your child needs to be added to the family card please contact Carole on 0402 32421, you will need to provide a copy of your child birth cert and PPS number.

 

If you are a private patient you will need to apply for the card online due to it being a new application.

Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule

Immunisation is a simple, safe and effective way of protecting your child against certain diseases. The risks from having these diseases are far greater than the risk of any minor side effects from immunisation.

 

Click the images to the right to download a copy of the immunisation schedule and a guide for parents on your child's immunisations. 

 

Click here for more information on the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule.

a screenshot of a cell phone

School Vaccine Programme

There are 3 vaccines offered to children in their first year of secondary school to protect them from infectious diseases.

These are the:

All the vaccines given in the schools' immunisation programme are free.

 

Click here for information on the School Programme.

Click here for further information on Immunisations.

HPV Vaccines for Girls & Boys

The HPV vaccine has been offered to girls in their first year of secondary school since 2010. This is because the most common cancer caused by the HPV virus is cervical cancer which only affects women.

From September 2019, boys will also be offered the HPV vaccine. This is because HPV can cause cancers and genital warts in boys too.

The more young people vaccinated - both boys and girls - the better we can control the spread of the infection.

Conditions Caused by HPV Infection

In girls, HPV infection can cause cancer of the:

  • cervix
  • vulva (the area surrounding the opening of the vagina)
  • vaginal
  • anus
  • throat
  • head and neck

In boys, HPV infection can cause cancer of the:

  • anus
  • throat
  • penis
  • head and neck

HPV infection can also cause genital warts in both girls and boys.

 

For HPV Facts and information about the HPV programme see HSE HPV Vaccine.