Pediatric Vaccination Schedule Philippines 2026: DOH EPI + Private Costs

Quick Answer: The Philippines has two parallel pediatric vaccination schedules in 2026. The DOH Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) provides 11 free vaccines from birth to school-age at Rural Health Units, Barangay Health Stations, and public schools — covering BCG, Hepatitis B, Pentavalent (DTwP-HepB-Hib), OPV/IPV, PCV13, MMR/MR, Japanese Encephalitis, HPV (Grade 4 girls), and Td (Grade 1 and 7). The PIDSP/PPS Recommended Schedule adds private-sector vaccines beyond EPI — Rotavirus (₱2,950–₱4,900), Varicella (₱2,000–₱3,500), Hepatitis A (₱1,500–₱3,300), Influenza (₱500–₱1,500 annual), Meningococcal ACWY (₱3,000–₱6,500), Hexavalent (₱5,000–₱6,500). PhilHealth does NOT reimburse routine childhood vaccines in 2026, but the Newborn Care Package covers BCG and Hep B birth doses during institutional delivery. The 2026 "Ligtas Tigdas" Measles-Rubella SIA runs in Mindanao (Jan–Feb 2026) and Luzon/Visayas (Jun 2026).

Table of Contents

• DOH EPI Schedule (Free Government Vaccines)
• PIDSP/PPS Recommended Schedule (Private Additions)
• 2026 Private Vaccine Prices Per Dose
• Where to Get Vaccines
• PhilHealth Coverage for Vaccines
• The 2026 Ligtas Tigdas MR Campaign
• What If My Child Missed a Vaccine?
• HPV Vaccine: Quick Notes
• Dengue Vaccine: 2026 Status
• Frequently Asked Questions

DOH EPI Schedule (Free Government Vaccines)

The Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) is mandated under RA 10152 ("Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immunization Act of 2011"). All vaccines are free at Rural Health Units (RHUs), Barangay Health Stations (BHS), city/municipal health offices, public school clinics, and DOH hospital pediatric outpatient departments.

A child is considered "fully immunized" when they have completed all primary doses before turning 12 months old.

2026 budget update: The Department of Health received a record ₱448.125 billion allocation for 2026, with increased funding specifically for measles and rubella vaccines following the 2025 outbreak surge.

How to access EPI vaccines:

1. Bring your child's Mother and Child Book or barangay-issued growth and immunization card.
2. Visit the nearest RHU, BHS, or city/municipal health center during their immunization day (often Wednesdays — call ahead).
3. Bring your barangay clearance for first-time visits.
4. The vaccine and administration are free; no PhilHealth required.

For first-time parents in Metro Manila, see our best pediatric clinics in Metro Manila guide for both public and private options.

PIDSP/PPS Recommended Schedule (Private Additions)

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines (PIDSP) and the Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS) publish the authoritative private-sector childhood immunization calendar — broader than EPI, with additional vaccines that are not part of the free government program.

Vaccines added beyond EPI (PIDSP/PPS 2026 schedule):

Key differences from EPI:

• PIDSP recommends Hexavalent instead of Pentavalent + OPV separately (one needle stick instead of two)
• PIDSP adds Rotavirus, Varicella, Hepatitis A, Influenza (annual), and Meningococcal — none of which are in EPI
• PIDSP recommends HPV for both boys and girls from age 9; the EPI school-based program currently covers only Grade 4 girls

The PIDSP schedule is what most middle-class Filipino families using private pediatricians follow, paying for non-EPI vaccines out-of-pocket. EPI vaccines remain free at RHUs even if you also use a private pediatrician — many families do a hybrid.

2026 Private Vaccine Prices Per Dose

Prices below are per single dose, observed at private pediatric clinics and hospitals in early 2026. Provincial clinics often run ₱500–₱1,500 cheaper than Metro Manila.

Estimated total cost to follow the full PIDSP/PPS schedule using private vaccines (without using free EPI alternatives): ₱60,000–₱90,000 total per child from birth to age 12, not counting consultation fees. Most families do a hybrid — EPI vaccines free at RHU, plus private add-ons (Rotavirus, Varicella, Hep A, Influenza, Hexavalent) — bringing total private spend down to ₱25,000–₱45,000 per child.

For a broader view of all vaccine prices, see our vaccine cost in the Philippines guide.

Where to Get Vaccines

Free (EPI vaccines):

• Rural Health Units (RHUs) — every municipality has at least one
• Barangay Health Stations (BHS) — for routine immunization in your barangay
• City / Municipal Health Offices — extended hours and additional services
• DOH hospital pediatric OPDs — PGH, EAMC, Quirino Memorial, Tondo MC, etc.
• Public school clinics (Td and HPV, school-based)

Free supplemental campaigns:

• Ligtas Tigdas MR campaign — running in 2026 for ages 6–59 months
• Polio supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) — periodic, in response to outbreak surveillance

Private (paid, broader vaccine selection):

• Pediatrician clinics — most private pediatricians stock common vaccines (Rotavirus, PCV13, Hexavalent, MMR, Varicella)
• Hospital pediatric departments — St. Luke's, Makati Med, Asian Hospital, Cardinal Santos, The Medical City
• Vaccine specialty clinics — Vaxbox Manila, Juan Medical, Hi-Precision, Affinity Vaccines, CIF Central, Kindred Health
• Mall-based pediatric immunization centers — typically inside mall-based hospital outposts

Pharmacy-based (limited):

• Watsons — has immunization clinics carrying flu vaccines (with appointment booking via the Watsons app)
• Southstar Drug — stocks Rx vaccines (Rotarix, Varilrix) for clinic administration
• Mercury Drug — Rx required; limited vaccine availability

If you're looking for a pediatrician or vaccination clinic by city, see our best pediatric clinics in Metro Manila, best pediatric clinics in Cebu, best pediatric clinics in Davao, and other city-specific pediatric clinic guides.

PhilHealth Coverage for Vaccines

PhilHealth does NOT directly reimburse routine childhood vaccines in 2026. Vaccines are funded separately by DOH-EPI (for free public access) and paid out-of-pocket (for private vaccines). What PhilHealth does cover:

If you want broader vaccine coverage, Konsulta enrollment at a PhilHealth-accredited primary care provider gives you free routine pediatric consultations alongside the EPI vaccines administered at your local RHU. See PhilHealth contribution table 2026 for membership and contribution rules.

The 2026 Ligtas Tigdas MR Campaign

Following measles outbreaks in 2024–2025, DOH launched the 2026 Ligtas Tigdas Measles-Rubella Supplementary Immunization Activity (SIA) for children aged 6–59 months. Coverage rolls out by region:

This is a catch-up dose — children who received their routine MMR/MR through EPI still benefit from the SIA dose. Bring your child's immunization record and a barangay clearance to the nearest health center during the campaign window.

What If My Child Missed a Vaccine?

You don't need to restart the series. PIDSP and DOH catch-up rules apply: your pediatrician (or RHU midwife) resumes from the missed antigen and adjusts dose intervals as needed. Specific catch-up schedules are detailed in the PIDSP 2026 Childhood Immunization Calendar (downloadable PDF from pidsphil.org).

General catch-up principles:

Some vaccines have age limits (Rotavirus must complete by 8 months, BCG ideally before 12 months) — for these, late starts may require alternative protection strategies. Consult your pediatrician.

HPV Vaccine: Quick Notes

For adolescents in Grade 4 (typically age 9), the DOH-DepEd "Bakuna Eskwela" school-based program offers HPV vaccine free for girls. As of May 2026, the program does not yet include boys, though PIDSP recommends HPV for both sexes from age 9.

For comprehensive HPV vaccine information — brand comparison (Gardasil 9 vs Cervarix), private pricing, schedule by age, where to get it, and coverage for boys — see our dedicated HPV vaccine cost in the Philippines 2026 guide.

Dengue Vaccine: 2026 Status

Dengue vaccination remains a complex topic in the Philippines after the 2017 Dengvaxia controversy.

Until Qdenga receives PH FDA approval (which may come later in 2026), mosquito control remains the primary defense against dengue — particularly during the rainy season (June–November). Consult your pediatrician if your child has had a confirmed prior dengue infection and you're considering Dengvaxia.

For dengue treatment cost information, see our dengue test and treatment cost in the Philippines guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What vaccines does the DOH provide for free in 2026?

The DOH Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) provides 11 free vaccines: BCG (TB, at birth), Hepatitis B (at birth), Pentavalent (DTwP-HepB-Hib at 6, 10, 14 weeks), OPV (polio at 6, 10, 14 weeks), IPV (polio at 14 weeks), PCV13 (pneumococcal at 6, 10, 14 weeks), MMR (measles, mumps, rubella at 9 mo and 12–15 mo), MR (Ligtas Tigdas SIA for ages 6–59 mo), Japanese Encephalitis (9–12 mo), HPV (Grade 4 girls, school-based), and Td (Grade 1 and 7, school-based).

How much do private pediatric vaccines cost in the Philippines in 2026?

Per dose at private clinics: Rotavirus ₱2,950–₱4,900, Varicella ₱2,000–₱3,500, Hepatitis A ₱1,500–₱3,300, Influenza ₱500–₱1,500/year, Meningococcal ACWY ₱3,000–₱6,500, Hexavalent (6-in-1) ₱5,000–₱6,500, HPV (Gardasil 9) ₱6,000–₱8,000. Most families end up spending ₱25,000–₱45,000 in total private vaccine costs per child from birth to age 12 (using free EPI for what's covered, paying for non-EPI add-ons).

What's the difference between EPI and the PIDSP schedule?

EPI is the free DOH-mandated minimum for all Filipino children, focused on the most critical vaccine-preventable diseases. PIDSP/PPS is the private-sector recommendation — broader, including Rotavirus, Varicella, Hepatitis A, annual Influenza, and Meningococcal, plus earlier/extra MMR and HPV for both sexes. Most middle-class families use a hybrid approach: free EPI vaccines at RHUs plus paid PIDSP add-ons at private pediatric clinics.

Is the DOH-supplied vaccine the same quality as imported brands?

Yes. All vaccines used in the Philippines — DOH-supplied or privately purchased — must pass Philippine FDA quality clearance and WHO prequalification. DOH-supplied vaccines are procured through UNICEF cold-chain channels and are clinically equivalent to private-sector vaccines. The cost difference reflects brand and clinic markup, not quality or safety.

My child missed a vaccine — do we need to restart the series?

No, you don't need to restart. PIDSP and DOH catch-up rules allow you to resume from where you left off. Your pediatrician will adjust dose intervals as needed. Most vaccines (Pentavalent, PCV13, MMR, Hep B) follow the "catch-up but don't restart" principle. Some vaccines have strict age limits — Rotavirus must finish by 8 months — for those, late starts may not be possible.

Are vaccines covered by PhilHealth in 2026?

PhilHealth does not directly reimburse routine childhood vaccines. The Newborn Care Package (₱5,000) covers BCG and Hep B birth doses during institutional delivery. The Konsulta package covers primary care consults but not vaccines. PhilHealth does cover hospitalization for vaccine-preventable disease complications (pneumonia, measles, dengue, etc.).

Should boys get the HPV vaccine in the Philippines?

Yes — PIDSP recommends HPV vaccine for both sexes from age 9, since HPV causes anal, oropharyngeal, penile, and head-and-neck cancers in men in addition to cervical cancer in women. However, the DOH school-based program currently covers only Grade 4 girls. Boys must receive the vaccine privately at ₱6,000–₱8,000 per dose (Gardasil 9). See HPV vaccine cost guide for details.

Is the dengue vaccine available in the Philippines for my child?

Dengvaxia is restricted to ages 9–45 with confirmed prior dengue infection (requires seropositive antibody test). Qdenga (the newer Takeda dengue vaccine) is awaiting Philippine FDA approval as of May 2026 — not yet commercially available. Until then, mosquito control (DEET, screens, eliminating standing water) remains the primary defense.

Where can I find a pediatrician for my child's vaccines?

Public RHUs and Barangay Health Stations are free for EPI vaccines. For private pediatricians and the broader PIDSP schedule, see our city-specific pediatric clinic guides: best pediatric clinics in Metro Manila, pediatric clinics in Cebu, pediatric clinics in Davao, pediatric clinics in Pampanga, and more — or browse pediatricians on ClinicFinderPH by area.

When can my child get the flu vaccine?

The PIDSP recommends annual influenza vaccine starting at 6 months of age. The first vaccination year requires 2 doses (4 weeks apart); after that, one dose annually. The optimal time to vaccinate is before flu season (typically May–June in the Philippines). Cost: ₱500–₱1,500 per dose at private clinics.

Conclusion

The Philippines runs two parallel pediatric vaccination schedules in 2026 — the free DOH EPI for the most critical vaccines, and the broader PIDSP/PPS recommended schedule for fuller coverage. Most middle-class families use a hybrid approach: free EPI vaccines at the local RHU plus paid PIDSP add-ons (Rotavirus, Varicella, Hep A, Influenza, Hexavalent) at a private pediatrician.

Three things to do this month if you have a child under 18:

1. Pull out your child's immunization record (Mother and Child Book or barangay card) and check what's been completed and what's pending against the EPI schedule above.
2. Visit your nearest RHU for any pending EPI vaccines — they're free.
3. Ask your pediatrician about non-EPI vaccines your child should still receive (Rotavirus if under 8 months, annual flu, Varicella if not yet given, etc.).

For more pediatric care guides:

• Vaccine Cost in the Philippines 2026
• HPV Vaccine Cost: Gardasil 9 vs Cervarix
• Best Pediatric Clinics in Metro Manila
• Developmental Pediatrician in the Philippines
• Newborn Screening Cost in the Philippines
• PhilHealth Maternity Benefits 2026

Looking for a pediatrician or vaccination clinic? Browse pediatric clinics on ClinicFinderPH by area, specialty, and HMO acceptance.