Catch-up vaccines – what to do in South Africa
What to do when a child or adult has missed a vaccine, how records help and why a clinic should create the catch-up plan.
A missed vaccine needs a record review, not a guess
When a vaccine was missed, a clinic checks the person's age, previous doses, health conditions, pregnancy status and available record before making a catch-up plan. Do not assume the whole series must restart or that a foreign schedule applies to South Africa.
Bring every record you can find
- The child's Road to Health book or adult vaccination card.
- School, clinic, travel or occupational-health records.
- Dates and names of vaccines already given, if known.
- Information about immune problems, pregnancy, severe previous reactions or current illness.
If a record is incomplete, tell the nurse rather than filling gaps from memory. The clinic can decide whether a dose should be repeated or documented another way.
Build the catch-up plan
- Book or visit the appropriate clinic or vaccination service.
- Show the record and explain which doses may be missing.
- Ask for the next date in writing.
- Keep the updated record for school, travel, pregnancy and future visits.
Ask before vaccinating during significant illness
Common questions
- Can missed vaccines be caught up in South Africa?
- Often a clinic can create a catch-up plan after reviewing age, previous doses and health history. Bring the Road to Health book or other records.
- Do vaccine schedules restart after a missed dose?
- Do not assume they restart. The clinic decides the catch-up plan from the documented doses and the current South African schedule.
Sources
- Paediatric Hospital Level Standard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Medicines ListNational Department of Health, South Africa
- Road to Health book: health-service contacts and child health guidanceNational Department of Health, South Africa
- National clinical guidelines and policy libraryNational Department of Health, South Africa
Last reviewed 26 August 2026.