Ensure your child receives all vaccines in the national immunization schedule at no cost; missed doses can be added later

3. Ensure your child receives all vaccines in the national immunization schedule at no cost; missed doses can be added later

Cost: Absolutely free. Laws explicitly state that vaccination centers may not charge any fees for administering vaccines on the national schedule. You’ll need to visit the clinic several times according to your child’s age. Be sure to keep the vaccination record safe and never lose it.

In plain terms: All vaccines included in the national immunization schedule are completely free — clinics cannot charge a single cent. Both daycare centers and schools require proof of vaccination, so any missed doses will definitely be noticed and must be made up later. You only need to receive the remaining doses; there’s no need to restart the entire series from the beginning. Even if a different manufacturer produces the same vaccine, it can still be used. Conditions such as eczema, hives, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and even neonatal jaundice do not prevent vaccination, provided the condition remains stable.

Benefit: Daycare centers and schools must verify that children have received all required vaccines on schedule. If any gaps are found, they must inform vaccination centers so guardians can be urged to complete the missing doses. Thus, missing vaccines cannot be ignored — they must be addressed before school entry. The current guidelines date to 2026. Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is now part of the national schedule. The starting age for DTaP vaccination has been lowered from 3 months to 2 months; a total of five doses are required at 2, 4, 6 months, 18 months, and age 6. Starting March 2026, children in Tibet, Qinghai, Xinjiang, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps will also routinely receive Japanese encephalitis vaccine. Multiple vaccines may be administered on the same day per current protocols, provided they are injected into separate sites; mixing different vaccines into one syringe is strictly prohibited. For inactivated vaccines, oral live vaccines, and other types, no minimum interval is required between doses. For children under 18, the rule is to catch up as soon as possible — only the missing doses must be given, not the whole series from scratch. Switching manufacturers poses no problem. (National guidelines, 2026 edition)

Evidence grade: A

Sources: Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2019). Vaccine Administration Law (Articles 48, 49). <http://ynswsjkw.yn.gov.cn/html/2019/faguiguizhangxin_0731/6509.html> (Reprinted by Yunnan Provincial Health Commission); National Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention, National Health Commission of China (NHC) (2026). Interpretation questions and answers on "National Immunization Program Vaccine Childhood Immunization Procedures and Instructions (2026 Edition)". <https://www.ndcpa.gov.cn/jbkzzx/c100013/common/content/content_2073002930292035584.html>

Notes: A common misconception is that children with weaker health should delay vaccination. In reality, having an “allergic constitution,” a family history of allergies, or prior food or drug allergies does not constitute a barrier to vaccination. Conditions such as atopic dermatitis (eczema), hives, allergic rhinitis, and bronchial asthma can all be managed safely provided they remain under control. Children taking antihistamines or inhaled corticosteroids may also be vaccinated. Physiological or breast milk–related neonatal jaundice poses no issue either. The only true contraindications are prior occurrence of acute severe allergic reactions to a specific vaccine or known hypersensitivity to any component of that vaccine. Children with immune deficiencies, undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy, or on immunosuppressive therapy require individualized assessment by a medical professional prior to vaccination. For details on the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine, refer to section 2. Non‑schedule vaccines sold at additional cost are unrelated to this free program.