Free Vaccines for Babies in the Philippines 2026: The Complete NIP List
Quick Answer: Under the National Immunization Program (NIP), Filipino babies get BCG, bivalent OPV, IPV, Pentavalent, PCV, and MMR FREE at any barangay health center or rural health unit, plus Td at school age (Grade 1 and Grade 7). Vaccines like rotavirus, typhoid, seasonal flu, chickenpox, and hepatitis A are NOT part of the NIP and are private-sector, out-of-pocket vaccines. Here's the full breakdown, by age, of what's free and what isn't.
About this guide: The free NIP vaccine list and schedule below come from the PIDSP/PPS/PFV 2026 immunization schedule, the reference jointly maintained by the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines, the Philippine Pediatric Society, and the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination. Private vaccine prices referenced throughout link to our individual per-vaccine cost guides, each sourced and dated separately. Last checked: August 2026.
Table of Contents
- What Is the National Immunization Program (NIP)?
- Which Vaccines Are Free for Babies?
- The Free Vaccination Schedule by Age
- Which Vaccines Are NOT Free (Private-Only)?
- Where to Get Free Vaccines for Your Baby
- What If You Miss a Dose?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
What Is the National Immunization Program (NIP)?
The National Immunization Program is the Philippine government's routine, free childhood vaccination schedule, delivered through barangay health centers and rural health units (RHUs) nationwide. It's built around a defined list of vaccines that public health authorities have designated as free, universal protection for every Filipino child â no PhilHealth membership required, no means test, and no separate application. You simply bring your baby to a health center on schedule.
Not every vaccine available in the Philippines is part of the NIP. Some â rotavirus and typhoid among them â are available only through private clinics and pharmacies, at the parent's own expense. Knowing which is which before your baby's next visit helps you plan, and helps you avoid being surprised by an out-of-pocket bill for something you assumed was free.
Which Vaccines Are Free for Babies?
Per the PIDSP/PPS/PFV 2026 immunization schedule, the following vaccines carry an explicit NIP (free) designation:
| Vaccine | Protects Against |
|---|---|
| BCG | Tuberculosis |
| Bivalent OPV (oral polio) | Poliovirus |
| IPV (injectable polio) | Poliovirus |
| Pentavalent | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, Hib |
| PCV | Pneumococcal disease |
| MMR | Measles, mumps, rubella |
| Td (school age) | Tetanus, diphtheria â given at Grade 1 and Grade 7 |
All of these are given free at any barangay health center or RHU, on the schedule below. Polio protection comes from two of these vaccines together â bivalent OPV (oral drops) and IPV (injectable) â both fully free under the NIP.
The Free Vaccination Schedule by Age
This is a summary based on the PIDSP/PPS/PFV 2026 schedule. For the complete, dose-by-dose timeline with every age and interval, see our Pediatric Vaccination Schedule guide â this table gives you the shape of it, not a substitute for that full reference or your pediatrician's guidance.
| Age Window | What's Typically Given |
|---|---|
| At birth | BCG |
| Early infancy (weeks) | OPV, IPV, Pentavalent, PCV doses begin |
| Around 9 months | MMR, additional IPV dose |
| School age | Td (Grade 1 and Grade 7) |
We're deliberately not listing exact week-by-week ages for every dose here beyond what's already confirmed for OPV/IPV in our polio guide â the full multi-dose timing across all six NIP vaccines is exactly the kind of detail your health center's immunization card and your pediatrician are best placed to track for your specific child, rather than a general blog table.
Which Vaccines Are NOT Free (Private-Only)?
Several vaccines commonly asked about are not part of the NIP and are available only through private pharmacies, clinics, or hospitals, at the parent's own cost:
| Vaccine | NIP Status | Learn More |
|---|---|---|
| Rotavirus | Not in NIP â private only | Ask your pediatrician about current pricing |
| Typhoid | Not in NIP â private, special-groups vaccine | Ask your pediatrician about current pricing |
| Seasonal flu | Not in NIP â private only | Mercury Drug Flu Vaccine Price guide |
| Chickenpox (varicella) | Not in NIP â private only | Chickenpox Vaccine Cost guide |
| HPV | Not in NIP for the general public â private, with some school-based government drives in specific areas | HPV Vaccine Cost guide |
| Hepatitis A | Not in NIP â private only | Ask your pediatrician about current pricing |
A useful way to think about it: if a vaccine appears in the free table above (BCG, OPV, IPV, Pentavalent, PCV, MMR, Td), your health center gives it at no cost on the standard schedule. If it's in this table instead, expect to pay out of pocket at a pharmacy, clinic, or hospital â and check our per-vaccine guides for current pricing before you go.
A note on vaccines that sound similar to NIP vaccines but aren't the same product: some parents ask about extra or booster doses of an NIP vaccine given privately for convenience or brand preference (for example, a private MMR booster, or adult-focused pneumococcal vaccination distinct from infant PCV). Those situations involve a different product or a different life stage than the free infant NIP dose, and pricing for them is covered in our separate MMR Vaccine Cost, Pneumonia Vaccine Cost, and Hepatitis B Vaccine Cost guides â none of that changes the fact that the standard infant doses of MMR, PCV, and Pentavalent (which includes hepatitis B) remain free under the NIP.
Where to Get Free Vaccines for Your Baby
- Barangay health centers â the most accessible option for most families, running the full NIP schedule as part of routine well-baby visits.
- Rural health units (RHUs) â municipality-level facilities offering the same free schedule.
- City and municipal health offices â often run outreach immunization drives in underserved barangays.
Bring your baby's immunization record (baby book or health card) to every visit. It's the single most useful thing you can carry â it's how health center staff track which doses are done and which are due next, and it's what you'll need if you ever move to a different health center or city.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If your baby missed a scheduled NIP dose, don't try to work out a catch-up plan yourself. Bring your baby's immunization record to your nearest barangay health center or RHU and ask staff to assess where your child stands. Catch-up scheduling depends on which doses were already given, at what age, and how much time has passed â an individualized clinical decision that belongs with health center staff or your pediatrician, not a general guide like this one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What vaccines are free for babies in the Philippines?
BCG, bivalent OPV, IPV, Pentavalent, PCV, and MMR, all under the National Immunization Program, plus Td at school age (Grade 1 and Grade 7). These are given free at any barangay health center or rural health unit.
Is rotavirus vaccine free in the Philippines?
No. Rotavirus is not part of the NIP's free vaccine list â it's a private-sector vaccine that parents pay for out of pocket. Ask your pediatrician or a pharmacy with vaccination services for current pricing.
Do I need to pay anything for NIP vaccines?
No. There's no fee, no PhilHealth membership requirement, and no means test for the six core NIP vaccines (BCG, OPV, IPV, Pentavalent, PCV, MMR) or school-age Td. They're free at any public health center running the program.
Is the hepatitis B vaccine free for babies?
The hepatitis B antigen is included in Pentavalent, which is part of the free NIP schedule for infants. Our separate Hepatitis B Vaccine Cost guide covers pricing for standalone or catch-up hepatitis B vaccination outside that infant NIP dose.
Is the pneumococcal (PCV) vaccine the same as the adult pneumonia vaccine?
No â PCV, the infant pneumococcal vaccine included in the free NIP schedule, is a different product and life-stage indication from adult-focused pneumococcal vaccination. See our Pneumonia Vaccine Cost guide for the adult/private product specifically.
What vaccines will I have to pay for privately?
Rotavirus, typhoid, seasonal flu, chickenpox, and HPV are the main ones not included in the NIP's free list, based on the current PIDSP/PPS/PFV 2026 schedule. Each has its own cost guide linked in the table above.
Where do I take my baby for free vaccines?
Any barangay health center or rural health unit near you. Bring your baby's immunization record to every visit so staff can track completed and upcoming doses accurately.
What if my baby missed a scheduled vaccine?
Take your baby's immunization record to your nearest health center and ask staff to assess a catch-up plan. This depends on your child's specific history and age, so it's a decision for health center staff or your pediatrician, not something to work out on your own.
Conclusion
Six vaccines â BCG, bivalent OPV, IPV, Pentavalent, PCV, and MMR â are free for every Filipino baby under the National Immunization Program, plus Td at school age, all available at no cost through barangay health centers and rural health units. Rotavirus, typhoid, seasonal flu, chickenpox, and HPV sit outside that free list and are private, out-of-pocket vaccines â worth budgeting for separately if your pediatrician recommends them.
For the full dose-by-dose timeline, see our Pediatric Vaccination Schedule guide. For measles specifically, see our Measles Vaccine Free in the Philippines guide. For a closer look at individual shots on this list, see our guides to the polio vaccine, tetanus toxoid, typhoid vaccine, and rotavirus vaccine. Search ClinicFinderPH to find a health center or pediatric clinic near you.