Vaccines and Newborn Screenings

Turkey's childhood immunization program is a completely free system that protects your baby against 13 serious diseases. Your family health center calls you in according to the schedule; your job is simply not to miss the appointments. This guide answers the "which month, which shot, and why?" questions.

Note: The vaccination schedule may be updated by the Ministry of Health (most recently in 2025, when the six-in-one combination vaccine was introduced); the current schedule your family doctor gives you is always the one that applies.

At birth (first 72 hours)

• Hepatitis B (dose 1) — the first shield protecting the liver, ideally within the first 24 hours.

At the end of month 2

• Six-in-one combination (dose 1): diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, Hib meningitis, and Hepatitis B in a single shot.
• PCV (dose 1): against the pneumococcal bacterium that causes pneumonia and meningitis.
• BCG: the tuberculosis vaccine — it's normal for it to leave a small scar at the site, and that scar is a sign of protection.

At the end of month 4

• Six-in-one combination (dose 2) + PCV (dose 2).

At the end of month 6

• Six-in-one combination (dose 3) + oral polio drops (OPV dose 1).

At month 12

• MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) + chickenpox + PCV booster.

At month 18

• Six-in-one combination booster + OPV (dose 2) + Hepatitis A (dose 1).

At month 24

• Hepatitis A (dose 2) — completing the series against infectious hepatitis.

The rotavirus and meningococcal vaccines aren't in the government program; many pediatricians recommend them, but they come at a cost — you can talk with your doctor and decide based on your budget.

A slightly fussy baby on the evening of vaccine day is the sound of an immune system doing its job:

• Normal: redness and swelling at the injection site, a mild fever, fussiness, and loss of appetite — usually gone within 1–2 days. You can use the fever reducer your doctor has approved.
• With BCG, a small sore and scabbing at the vaccine site weeks later is a natural part of the process; don't squeeze it or apply ointment.
• See a doctor for: a fever that won't come down or is very high, crying that can't be soothed for hours, seizures, difficulty waking, or swelling of the face and lips or difficulty breathing (these last ones are emergencies).

In the first 48–72 hours after birth, a few drops of blood are taken from your baby's heel; within the first week, the family doctor takes a second sample. This tiny test screens for 6 congenital conditions that are treatable when caught early:

• Phenylketonuria, congenital hypothyroidism, cystic fibrosis, biotinidase deficiency, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and SMA (from the same drop since 2022).

A call saying "more blood is needed" is no cause for panic — some samples are repeated for technical reasons. Even so, don't put it off when you're called in.

• The first test is done at the hospital before discharge; it's completed within the first month.
• Not passing the first test is common (even birth fluid in the ear can cause it) — be sure to go to the retest.
• Early diagnosis is hugely valuable: when hearing loss is identified by month 3 and hearing aids are fitted by month 6, speech development is largely preserved.

This guide is general information compiled from trusted health sources; vaccine practices and screening results vary from person to person, and nothing here is a substitute for a medical exam. Always make your decisions under the guidance of your doctor and family physician, and check with them first whenever you're unsure.