Are vaccines mandatory in Spain? According to the law, vaccination in Spain is optional, though not being vaccinated may lead to restrictions on activities, such as schooling or specific jobs. What’s more, there is space in the law for the government to require that certain vaccines be mandatory because of its risk to public health; anyone remember that global pandemic back in 2020? This law is the Organic Law 4/1981, from the 1 June, gives the government the ability to mandate vaccines in the case of states of alarm.
But what about something as simple as a flu vaccine each winter, or the MMR boosters for school-aged children? Read on for additional information about vaccinations in Spain (all information updated as of September 15, 2024).
Mandatory or not, Spaniards are generally in favor of vaccination; a recent example lies in the COVID-19 global pandemic. According to a 2021 report put out by the President’s office, nearly two thirds of the population had been vaccinated against COVID-19 in the first eight months of the campaign against the disease.
Children as young as two months can begin their round of vaccinations – and later, boosters – to prevent common childhood diseases such as polio, measles / mumps / rubella, chickenpox, hepatitis and the rotavirus, though there are slight differences in when each is administered and their cost.
All autonomous communities are required to meet the guidelines laid out by the Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Santiarios, though there are some regional differences. You can search for the “calendario de vacunación” according to your autonomous community on the Ministry of Health’s vaccination website or on the Spanish Association of Vaccinology’s list of vaccines by community.
Vaccine costs are nearly always covered by the region’s health service, so long as they are officially on the calendar; in Madrid, for example, my husband and I opted to pay for the meningitis B vaccines out-of-pocket because they were not included in the calendar for our eldest child, born in 2017. When we moved to Andalucía, our youngest received the two vaccine rounds as part of his battery of jabs at no additional cost to us.
So, are vaccines mandatory for children? While vaccinations are not mandatory, they are highly recommended by the Spanish Association of Pediatricians, especially for young children. When you register a child for school at any level, you may be asked to present a copy of their vaccination record, particularly if the school is private.
Note that the Rotavirus vaccine is not currently included on a national level but highly recommended; allergy vaccinations are at the cost of the patient.
Typically speaking, adults will not have to vaccinate regularly unless they get a yearly flu shot, or travel, are exposed to an infectious disease or need a rabies shot. The European Centre for Disease Transmission and Control provides this graphic for vaccination cycles in both children and adults in Spain for reference.
Another example of adult vaccination is in pregnant women: depending on the evolution of the pregnancy, a nurse might suggest administering a seasonal flu shot, particularly if you are in your third trimester during the winter months. Pregnant women are also expected to be vaccinated against tosferina, or pertussis, in week 27 or 28 of the pregnancy.
Travelers may need to contact the nearest Centro de Vacunación Internacional to inquire about necessary medicine or vaccines for overseas trips where one might contract malaria or yellow fever, for example.
Most travelers to Spain will not need to vaccinate prior to travel to Spain, and as a developed country, there are few health risks for most. The U.S.-based Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that you have had the normal battery of vaccinations in addition to Hepatitis A and B; babies between 6 and 11 months should get at least one dose of MMR prior to any overseas travel, and the federal Spanish government does not require vaccinations to live in or travel to Spain. Remember that access to healthcare in Spain is easy and not expensive.
If you are not working in the Spanish social security system and you or a family member wish to be fully vaccinated or get a vaccination that is not included in the local vaccination calendar, you can consider private insurers or out-of-pocket costs.
If you’re looking for a comprehensive health plan that includes vaccination for yourself and your family members, consider Caser’s Integral plan. A leading insurer in Spain with experience in expats and non-Spanish residents, you’ll have the peace of mind knowing any routine procedure or even an emergency will be taken care of thanks to Caser’s team of professionals (many of whom speak your language!). This includes telehealth and 24-hour, round-the-clock care – and this is only a shortlist of the numerous benefits.
When it comes to vaccinations, these will be covered for children according to the regional vaccination calendar; adults in a high risk group will also be covered. To be inoculated, contact your health care provider to find out how and where.
Caser’s comprehensive plans, like Integral, will also cover the requirement for a Spanish health insurance policy if you’re seeking a visa to live in Spain.
Get started by completing the health insurance form to calculate what your Integral plan quote would be for you and your family. A professional will call you to talk you though the ins and out of the plan, if you choose.
Vaccinations have, no doubt, saved millions of lives around the world since their discovery and widespread use. Staying up-to-date is also a public health measure that will protect those around you and keep communicable diseases at bay. Make it a priority to follow your autonomous community’s guidelines and stay healthy.
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