Can I delay my child's vaccines and catch up later?

Last reviewed: 2026-06-14

Quick answer

Yes, doses can be caught up — but delaying without a reason isn't advisable. The Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme schedule is timed to the ages when infants most need protection, so a delay leaves your child more exposed during the gap. If a dose is missed through illness or other reasons, you don't start over — a doctor or Maternal & Child Health Centre (MCHC) will set a catch-up schedule based on what your child has already had, and bring the missed doses back on track. Take your child to your registered MCHC, or consult your family doctor, as soon as you can — the sooner the better.

Many parents ask: "My child was sick / travelling / we were too busy — can this dose wait?" The answer is yes, it can be caught up — but the sooner the better.

Why delaying without a reason isn't advised

The Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme schedule isn't arbitrary. It's timed to the ages when infants are most vulnerable to infection and most need protection. Several vaccines are given in stages during the first year precisely because a baby's immune system is more fragile then. Delaying pushes back that protection and leaves your child more exposed in the meantime.

If a dose is missed, do we start over?

No. The immune system "remembers" the doses already given, so catching up continues from where you left off rather than restarting. A doctor or MCHC will use catch-up principles, based on your child's record, to schedule the remaining doses.

What to do

Catch up promptly: take your child to your registered MCHC, or consult your family doctor, to schedule the missed doses.
Bring the jab card: so staff know exactly which vaccines your child has had, avoiding duplication or gaps.
School-age children: if your child has started school without completing programme vaccinations, the DH's School Immunisation Teams (primary) and Student Health Service Centres (secondary) also provide catch-up.

If you're only hesitating because of a mild cold, your child can usually still be vaccinated on schedule (see #61) — it's fever and similar situations that genuinely warrant postponing. When in doubt, ask a health professional rather than delaying on your own.

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