Portugal has more than 98% of children vaccinated in the first year of life

Portugal has 98% to 99% of children vaccinated in the first year of life, according to the 2024 annual report of the National Vaccination Program of the Directorate-General for Health, continuing to be an international reference in vaccination.

“Coverage rates remain very high up to six years of age, generally reaching or exceeding the 95% target”, can be read in the report, released this Wednesday, with the DGS stating that 86% of children born between August 2024 and March 2025 in mainland Portugal were vaccinated against the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) during the first seasonal immunization campaign.

“The high coverage achieved contributed to a substantial reduction in hospitalizations due to RSV in children up to six months of age”, says the DGS.

In turn, an increase was recorded, between 2023 and 2024, in vaccination coverage of the first and second doses of the vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), from 98% to 99%, and at six years, from 95% to 96%.