Everything you need to know about vaccination
Whether in Luxembourg or elsewhere, vaccination doesn’t always have a good reputation among the general public. Side effects, safety concerns, the harmful presence of aluminum… The topic sparks heated debate. We saw this during the COVID-19 crisis, with pro-vaccine and anti-vaccine groups clashing.
What do Luxembourg’s regulations say about vaccination? Is it mandatory for everyone? Which vaccines are recommended for children and adults? What are the requirements before traveling abroad?
The positive effects of vaccination on disease prevention are undeniable. Vaccines help protect the population from dangerous diseases.
Here’s everything you need to know about vaccination in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Vaccination and Regulations in Luxembourg
General framework for vaccination
In Luxembourg, vaccines are not mandatory. However , public health authorities recommend following the national vaccination schedule. Luxembourg follows the recommendations of the WHO and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Certain vaccines may be updated or recommended on a seasonal basis, particularly for the flu and COVID-19.
For children who have recently arrived in Luxembourg, a vaccination check may be required upon enrollment in school or daycare.
Information campaigns are regularly organized to raise awareness among expatriate families about the importance of vaccination and its role in disease prevention.
Indeed, while vaccination is an individual right, it is also a collective responsibility. Authorities recommend vaccinating children. Adults are also encouraged to receive various vaccines. This includes vaccines against polio, tetanus, pertussis, and diphtheria.
The Luxembourg government covers the cost of vaccinations for infants and children for vaccines included in the vaccination schedule.
Vaccination Recommendations in Luxembourg
Although there are no specific regulations on this matter, vaccinating children is strongly recommended in Luxembourg. By vaccinating their children, parents protect them against dangerous and even life-threatening diseases.
Adults are also encouraged to get vaccinated against certain diseases. Vaccination helps combat serious illnesses.
You can check online to see if you are up to date with the recommended vaccinations in Luxembourg.
Vaccination Schedule in Luxembourg
Starting with the first vaccination, a vaccination record is provided to the patient. This allows them to track the shots received from a young age and verify their vaccination status. It includes the vaccine name, the date of the shot, the batch number, and typically the date of the next booster shot.
Luxembourg’s health authorities have established a vaccination schedule. This provides vaccination recommendations for infants and children, adolescents, as well as adults.
Like residents, cross-border workers must comply with the vaccination regulations related to their job in Luxembourg. These vaccinations can be administered by doctors or by approved vaccination centers, in coordination with Occupational Health.
Coverage of Vaccination Costs
The Luxembourg government covers the cost of vaccinations for infants and children, in accordance with the vaccination schedule. This coverage also applies to certain at-risk populations.
The CNS reimburses the cost of seasonal flu vaccination for eligible individuals. Contact your primary care physician directly to learn more about who is eligible for flu vaccine coverage.
The CNS also reimburses the cost of the bivalent vaccine (Cervarix®) for girls and boys aged 9 through 14.
Learn more about medical care reimbursements.
Recommended Vaccines in Luxembourg
In Luxembourg, general practitioners administer all necessary vaccines. Contact your doctor’s office to schedule an appointment.
COVID-19 and flu vaccinations
Covid-19 vaccination remains recommended for at-risk individuals, such as seniors, immunocompromised individuals, or those with chronic illnesses.
The seasonal flu vaccine is also recommended for these groups, and its cost may be reimbursed by the CNS. These measures are particularly important for expats who have recently moved to Luxembourg or are returning from travel.
Do you have Covid symptoms? You can self-test using kits available at pharmacies.
Visit this page to learn everything about the current Covid regulations in Luxembourg.
Child Vaccination
| Infants, children, adolescents | |||
| Age | Dose | Vaccine | Protection |
| 2 months | 1 | Combination vaccine (D, T, aP, Hib, IPV, Hep B) | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b infections, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B |
| 1 | Rotavirus | Rotavirus gastroenteritis | |
| 1 | Pneumococci | Invasive pneumococcal infections | |
| 3 months | 2 | Combined vaccine (D, T, aP, Hib, IPV, Hep B) | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b infections, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B |
| 2 | Rotavirus | Rotavirus gastroenteritis | |
| 4 months | 3 | Combined vaccine (D, T, aP, Hib, IPV) | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b infections, poliomyelitis |
| 2 | Pneumococcal | Invasive pneumococcal disease | |
| 12 months | 1 | Combined vaccine (MMRV) | Mumps, rubella, measles, chickenpox |
| 3 | Pneumococcal | Invasive pneumococcal infections | |
| 13 months | 4 | Combined vaccine (D, T, aP, Hib, IPV, Hep B) | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b infections, hepatitis B |
| 1 | Meningococcal C | Invasive meningococcal C (MenC) infections | |
| 15–23 months | 2 | Combined vaccine (MMRV) | Mumps, rubella, measles, chickenpox |
| Before age 5 (if not already done) | 1 | Pneumococcal | Invasive pneumococcal infections |
| Ages 5–6 | Booster | Combination vaccine (D, T, aP, IPV) | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio |
| 12 years (if not yet done) | 1 | Hepatitis B | Hepatitis B |
| 11–13 years (girls) | 1 | HPV | Human Papillomavirus (HPV) |
| 15–16 years | Booster | Combination vaccine (D, T, aP, IPV + MenC) | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio |
| 15–16 years old (girls if not yet vaccinated) | 1 | HPV | Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections |
Other vaccinations may be recommended for at-risk children (blood disorders, chronic lung diseases, etc.).
Recommended vaccines for adults in Luxembourg
| Adults and seniors | ||
| Age | Vaccine | Protection |
| Every 10 years | Combination vaccine (D, T, aP, IPV) | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio |
| Born after 1980 and not having received two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine | MMR vaccine | Measles, mumps, rubella |
| Aged 65 and older | Pneumococcal | Invasive pneumococcal infections |
| 65 years and older | Influenza | Seasonal influenza |
Mandatory vaccination for certain professions
Certain professions, particularly in the healthcare and education sectors or those involving contact with the public, may require specific vaccines.
Expatriates hired by companies in Luxembourg may sometimes be required to present their vaccination records upon hiring to meet these requirements.
Traveling Abroad: When Should You Get Vaccinated?
Before traveling abroad, you may need to get specific and additional vaccinations. Vaccinations are recommended depending on the countries you are visiting.
Vaccines required for international travel
The SARS-CoV-2 vaccine against COVID-19 is required by certain countries. Obtaining a visa in advance depends on this. Proof must be provided to obtain the necessary documents for entry into the country, including in the case of a layover.
Yellow fever is the only disease for which countries may require proof of vaccination. Vaccination may be required upon travelers’ entry into the territory, in accordance with the International Health Regulations of 2005. Certain countries in Africa, Central America, or South America require systematic vaccination. This is the case in Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, and Mali. Other countries require it depending on the country of origin.
The purpose of vaccination is to prevent the importation and international spread of the virus. It alsoprotects travelers who may be exposed to infection.
Who should get vaccinated before traveling?
Certain vaccines are mandatory before entering the country. You should therefore carefully check the requirements before your trip.
As a general rule, all travelers must be vaccinated in accordance with the country’s requirements. Vaccination is also mandatory for infants starting at 9 months of age, or in exceptional cases, 6 months.
Pregnant or breastfeeding women, blood donors, or immunocompromised individuals may be exempt.
Special considerations regarding the Amaril yellow fever vaccine
If vaccination cannot be administered, it is strongly recommended to cancel or postpone —whenever possible—travel to areas where yellow fever is endemic.
Warning! Pregnant or breastfeeding women, children under 6 months of age, and immunocompromised individuals cannot be vaccinated against yellow fever
Egg Yolk Allergy
The production of certain vaccines involves a step where the vaccine is grown in chicken eggs. These vaccines therefore contain trace amounts of egg protein. This is particularly the case for the yellow fever vaccine. Vaccination against yellow fever is therefore not recommended for people with severe egg allergies. For more information, consult a doctor.
What is the International Certificate of Vaccination?
Once the vaccine has been administered, the doctor provides the patient with an International Certificate of Vaccination. This document certifies that the person has been vaccinated.
Since July 11, 2016, this vaccination certificate is valid for life, whereas previously it was valid for ten years. In other words, a yellow fever booster shot cannot be required as a condition for entry into a country. This amendment to Annex 7 of the International Health Regulations applies to everyone, regardless of the date of vaccination.
Where can you get vaccinated in Luxembourg for travel abroad?
The “Travel Clinic” is the only yellow fever vaccination center in Luxembourg. It provides information, advice, and vaccinations to travelers.
It is located at the Centre hospitalier de Luxembourg ( CHL ), on Rue Nicolas Ernest Barblé in Luxembourg City. You can book an appointment online directly on the CHL website. Make your appointment at least six weeks before departure to ensure full protection.
More than 4,000 patients visit the clinic each year to get vaccinated against yellow fever. Other vaccines are also available, such asthose for rabies, Japanese encephalitis, and hepatitis A and B…
Consult a doctor or the “Travel Clinic” at least six weeks before departure. The vaccination must be administered at least ten days before travel.
In cases of ongoing exposure or repeated travel, it is recommended that patients receive a booster shot every ten years.
Why get vaccinated in Luxembourg?
Vaccination protects against certain infectious diseases
Despite some skepticism regarding its effectiveness or safety, vaccination is effective in preventing dangerous diseases.
Vaccines also help prevent epidemics. Large-scale vaccination against COVID-19 has significantly slowed the spread of the pandemic and reduced the risk of death.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), two to three million lives are saved each year thanks to vaccination. Vaccination has notably helped eradicate smallpox in its historical form. The last known case dates back to 1977 in Somalia.
Vaccination Status in Europe and Luxembourg
Thanks to vaccination, certain diseases have been eradicated, such as polio, which has now disappeared from Western Europe. Several other serious diseases—such as diphtheria and tetanus—have virtually disappeared from Europe. They no longer exist in Luxembourg.
In the Grand Duchy, vaccination coverage for children aged 25 to 30 months is assessed every five years. This nationalsurvey reveals that more than 95% of resident children have been vaccinated against the 13 recommended vaccines.
Health Prevention, European Immunization Week
Vaccination is an individual right, but also a collective responsibility. Every year, “European Immunization Week” is held. It raises public awareness about the importance of vaccines.
In 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched a Global Vaccine Action Plan. The WHO has set several goals, such as eliminating rubella and reducing mortality from measles.
Vaccinating a larger portion of the global population against tetanus, pertussis, and diphtheria is also a priority.
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