Egypt National Childhood Immunisation Schedule 2026: Complete Guide
The updated Egyptian Ministry of Health immunisation schedule for 2026. This guide covers all vaccines by age, the reasoning behind the schedule, catch-up guidance, and how to manage it digitally.
Egypt's National Immunisation Programme: 2026 Update
The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) runs a comprehensive Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) that has achieved commendable coverage rates for core vaccines. This guide reflects the 2026 schedule as published by the MoHP.
Important: This guide is for educational reference only. Always cross-check with the current MoHP bulletin, as schedules may be updated. Clinit's vaccine schedule module is updated automatically when the MoHP publishes revisions.
Schedule by Age
At Birth (Before Hospital Discharge)
BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin)
- Dose: 0.05 ml intradermal, left upper arm
- Purpose: Protection against severe forms of tuberculosis (TB meningitis, miliary TB)
- Note: Do not give to immunocompromised infants. A scar is expected at 4–6 weeks.
Hepatitis B — Birth Dose (HepB-0)
- Dose: 0.5 ml IM, anterolateral thigh
- Must be given within 24 hours of birth
- Critical for infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers (add HBIG within 12 hours)
Vitamin K (not a vaccine, but given at birth)
- 1 mg IM to all neonates regardless of birth mode
6 Weeks
Pentavalent Vaccine (DTP-HepB-Hib) — 1st dose
- Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (whole cell), Hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type b
- 0.5 ml IM, anterolateral thigh
Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) — 1st dose
- 2 drops orally
- Note: OPV is used in the national schedule. IPV may be given additionally in some settings.
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV13) — 1st dose
- 0.5 ml IM, opposite thigh to Pentavalent
- Introduced into the national schedule to reduce pneumococcal pneumonia and meningitis
Rotavirus Vaccine — 1st dose
- Oral liquid
- Must begin before 15 weeks of age to be eligible
10 Weeks
Pentavalent — 2nd dose
OPV — 2nd dose
PCV13 — 2nd dose
Rotavirus — 2nd dose
14 Weeks
Pentavalent — 3rd dose
OPV — 3rd dose
PCV13 — 3rd dose (some schedules use a 3+0 vs 2+1 approach — check current MoHP guidance)
9 Months
Measles, Rubella (MR) — 1st dose
- 0.5 ml subcutaneous, upper arm
- In some areas the MMR (adding Mumps) is given instead — confirm local supply
Meningococcal A Conjugate (MenA)
- Administered as part of a regional campaign or outbreak response — confirm current status with MoHP
18 Months
DTP Booster (1st booster)
- OPV booster
- MMR 2nd dose
School Entry (4–6 years)
DT (Diphtheria-Tetanus) booster
- OPV booster
Adolescent (10–12 years)
Td (Tetanus-diphtheria) — adult formulation
HPV vaccine — for girls in the national programme (2 doses, 6 months apart)
Special Situations
Premature Infants
- Give all vaccines based on chronological age, not corrected age
- BCG should be deferred until the infant weighs at least 2 kg
- Hepatitis B birth dose: give if birth weight ≥2 kg; if <2 kg, defer HepB-0 and give a 4-dose series starting at 1 month
Infants Born to HBsAg-Positive Mothers
- HepB-0 within 12 hours of birth
- HBIG 0.5 ml IM within 12 hours (different site from vaccine)
- Complete the 3-dose series
- Test for HBsAg and anti-HBs at 9–12 months
Catch-Up Vaccination
- The minimum interval between doses of the same vaccine must be respected
- The four-day grace period (administering a dose up to 4 days before the minimum interval) is acceptable
- For children with unknown vaccine history: start the series from the beginning for most vaccines
- No need to restart a series — count all valid doses given at correct intervals
Cold Chain Requirements
All childhood vaccines require refrigeration at 2–8°C, with the exception of OPV which should ideally be stored at -15°C to -25°C for long-term storage (2–8°C acceptable for up to 1 month).
Rotavirus vaccine is particularly cold-chain sensitive. Check VVM (Vaccine Vial Monitor) colour on each vial before administration. If the inner square is darker than the outer circle, discard the vial.
Managing Vaccine Records in Clinit
Clinit's pediatric module includes a dedicated vaccine management system that:
Schedule tracking:
- Automatically calculates the next due vaccine based on the child's date of birth
- Colour-codes the schedule (green = due today, amber = overdue, grey = future)
- Sends Automated reminders to parents 2 days before each scheduled vaccine
Administration recording:
- Records vaccine name, manufacturer, lot number, expiry date, site, dose, and administrator
- Stores adverse reaction observations in the same record
- Generates a printable vaccine card for parents
Lot inventory management:
- Track vaccines by lot number with expiry dates
- Automatic low-stock alerts when inventory falls below a set threshold
- Batch recall functionality if a lot is subject to a safety alert
Catch-up wizard:
- For new patients with incomplete or unknown vaccine history
- Calculates minimum intervals and recommends the most efficient catch-up schedule
