Is vaccination mandatory?
In Belgium only one vaccine is legally mandatory: the one against polio (poliomyelitis). All other vaccines are strongly recommended, but not mandatory. The polio vaccination is compulsory for every baby (Royal Decree of 26 October 1966): the child must be fully vaccinated before the age of 18 months, and you provide a certificate to the municipality. All other vaccines (diphtheria-tetanus-whooping cough, measles-mumps-rubella, pneumococcus, hepatitis B, HPV …) are free and recommended via Kind en Gezin, the school medical service or ONE, but you may refuse them. Even childcare may legally require only the polio vaccination — an unvaccinated (or partly vaccinated) child can in principle be admitted. The COVID-19 vaccine is not mandatory. New since September 2025: the second measles dose is brought forward to 24 months (a schedule change, not a new obligation).
📋 The rules
- Only polio is a legally mandatory vaccine (Royal Decree of 26 October 1966)
- Full polio vaccination before 18 months, with a certificate to the municipality
- All other vaccines (DTP, MMR, pneumococcus, HPV …): free and recommended, not mandatory
- Childcare may legally require only polio; recommendations are not an admission condition
- The COVID-19 vaccine is not mandatory (for anyone)
- Since September 2025: second measles dose at 24 months (schedule, not a new obligation)
🔓 Exceptions
- Belgium uses only the injected polio vaccine (IPV), never the oral form
- For non-polio vaccines there is no legal sanction if you refuse them
- Childcare may legally require only the polio vaccination — the recommended vaccines cannot be a strict admission condition
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Only the polio vaccination is enforceable: not complying is punishable under the Royal Decree of 26 October 1966, and the municipality checks the certificate before the age of 18 months. For all other (recommended) vaccines there is no legal penalty for refusing — no fine, no file. What parents do run into is practice: an individual childcare setting or school can push hard. But legally, childcare may require only polio; going beyond that is not a valid admission condition.
📎 Official sources
- Laatjevaccineren.be (Agency for Care and Health) · poliomyelitis →
- Kinderrechtencommissariaat · which vaccines are mandatory →
- Departement Zorg · second measles vaccine at 24 months →
❓ Frequently asked
Which vaccines are mandatory in Belgium?
Only the vaccine against polio (poliomyelitis). Every baby must be fully vaccinated against polio before 18 months, with a certificate to the municipality. All other vaccines are recommended, not mandatory.
Can I refuse the other vaccines?
Yes. Diphtheria-tetanus-whooping cough, MMR, HPV and the rest are strongly recommended and free, but not mandatory. There is no legal sanction whatsoever if you refuse them.
What happens if I skip the polio vaccination?
That is the one enforceable vaccination: not complying is punishable under the 1966 Royal Decree. The municipality checks the certificate before 18 months, so a missing one gets noticed.
Can childcare require full vaccination?
Legally, childcare may require only the polio vaccination. The recommended vaccines may not be a strict admission condition, though many childcare settings strongly encourage them in practice.
Is the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory?
No, the COVID-19 vaccine is not mandatory for anyone — there is no legal vaccination duty at all beyond polio. Campaigns target older and at-risk groups, but participation is and stays voluntary.
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