Can I choose not to vaccinate my child?
No, for the mandatory vaccines. For children born since 1 January 2018, 11 vaccines are mandatory: diphtheria, tetanus, polio (DTP), whooping cough, Haemophilus influenzae b (Hib), hepatitis B, meningococcus C, pneumococcus, and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR). They're given in the first 18 months per the vaccination schedule. They condition admission to group settings (nursery, school, holiday centre): a child not up to date can be refused admission. Polio was already one of the three long-standing mandatory vaccines.
📋 The rules
- 11 mandatory vaccines for children born since 1 January 2018
- DTP + whooping cough, Hib, hepatitis B, meningo C, pneumococcus, MMR
- Given in the first 18 months (vaccination schedule)
- Condition admission to group settings (nursery, school)
- Health record / certificate checked at enrolment
🔓 Exceptions
- Recognised medical contraindication: case-by-case exemption
- Children born before 2018: only DTP was mandatory (3 vaccines)
- MMR is mandatory for children born since 2018
⚠️ Penalties & fines
An unvaccinated child (without a medical contraindication) can be refused admission to or kept out of nursery, school or holiday centre. Parents engage their responsibility: refusing the mandatory vaccines without a medical reason exposes them to sanctions and, above all, puts the child and the group at health risk. Follow-up is via the health record and the doctor.
📎 Official sources
- Service-Public.fr · Mandatory childhood vaccinations →
- Ministry of Health · Mandatory vaccination →
- Légifrance · Public Health Code (art. L3111-2) →
❓ Frequently asked
How many vaccines are mandatory?
11 for children born since 1 January 2018: diphtheria, tetanus, polio, whooping cough, Hib, hepatitis B, meningococcus C, pneumococcus and MMR. Before 2018, only three (DTP) were mandatory.
Can you refuse to vaccinate your child?
No, except for a recognised medical contraindication. The mandatory vaccines condition admission to group settings: a child not up to date can be refused nursery, school or a holiday centre.
What happens without vaccines at school?
The child can be refused admission or kept out of group settings until the mandatory vaccines are up to date. The health record or a certificate is checked at enrolment.
Are there exceptions?
Yes, for a medical contraindication recognised by a doctor, an exemption is possible case by case. Outside this medical reason, the mandatory vaccines must be given per the vaccination schedule.
When are these vaccines given?
Per the vaccination schedule, mainly in the child's first 18 months, with boosters later. Your doctor or the maternal-and-child health service handles follow-up and records the vaccines in the health record.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “11 mandatory vaccines child”
- “refuse child vaccine school”
- “mandatory vaccines 2018 list”
- “vaccine nursery admission”
- “mandatory baby vaccination schedule”
- “mmr mandatory child”