For busy parents, this vaccination guide provides everything you need to know about vaccinations in South Africa for 2025.

Ajuda, a digital storage vault for uploading and storing one’s health information, including vaccination records, prepared this guide to help parents understand more about vaccinations and how to prepare their children.

frontline experience

In 2009, South Africa experienced a significant measles outbreak. Dr Liza Street, paediatrician and co-founder of Ajuda, was on the frontlines as sick children by the dozen started arriving at the hospital where she was working.

Some children (predominantly vaccinated) were treated for mild symptoms and sent home. The unvaccinated children, small babies, and those with compromised immune systems were less fortunate, developing complications such as pneumonia, dehydration, middle ear infections, and inflammation of the brain. “The paediatric wards were overflowing with critically ill children,” recalls Dr Street. “The isolation ward was at capacity, and even the ICU was full.”

Dr Street remembers seeing the worried, anguished parents of the ill children. “Seeing their eyes, filled with fear and desperation, was heartbreaking. They had done everything they could, but they had not been aware of the importance of vaccination.”

how vaccinations save lives

Stories like these are not as common as they once were, due to the widespread adoption of vaccines, which currently protect against more than 30 life-threatening diseases, according to the World Health Organization.

“Vaccines work by introducing a harmless version of a germ, either weakened or inactive, into your body, so your immune system can learn to recognise and fight it without making you sick,” says Dr Street. “Your immune system stores the memory of how to fight that germ. If you encounter the real, harmful version later, your body can respond quickly and prevent serious illness.”

Vaccinated people not only protect themselves, but also newborns and immunocompromised people who rely on those around them to be vaccinated so that they don’t get exposed to life-threatening germs.

South Africa’s vaccination schedule

It’s important to stay up to date with current local guidelines. You can find the schedule here. South Africa has a government-sponsored vaccination programme that provides free vaccines for children through state clinics and hospitals.

There are additional vaccines that you have to pay for, such as the chicken pox vaccine, meningococcal vaccine, the flu vaccine and travel vaccinations. Dr Street encourages getting the added protection of the additional vaccinations if possible.

the flu vaccine

The flu vaccination is recommended from six months of age. “It is especially important for children in creches or those with chronic illnesses or respiratory conditions,” says Dr Street.

Tip: Ideally, get the flu jabs before May – the start of flu season.

Read more about the flu vaccine here.

decoding different names

When you look at the vaccine schedule, you’ll see different options for some vaccines. “It’s usually because they are made by different pharmaceutical companies. However, there isn’t one that’s ‘better’ than the other – they protect against the same diseases and work in similar ways,” says Dr Street. “Typically, you’ll get whichever vaccine is available at your pharmacy, baby clinic or hospital.”

Find out more about vaccinations.

why you need to keep a record of vaccinations

As important as it is for your child to be vaccinated, it’s just as crucial to keep a record. “Some parents are good at ensuring they’ve diarised each new vaccine date for their children, but many find it difficult to keep track over time,” says Taryn Uhlmann, co-founder of Ajuda. It gets especially tricky as children get older and vaccinations are spaced further apart – especially when there’s more than one child to keep track of.

An Ajuda vault is the perfect place to keep track of vaccinations – unlike a physical vaccination card, you can’t misplace or forget to bring your digital vault.

“Ajuda gives parents immediate access to their child’s vaccine records at the touch of a button via their phones. You can quickly see the dates you took your child, the names of the vaccines they had and who administered them.”

Other reasons for record-keeping:

• Travel: some countries require proof of certain vaccinations. “When travelling through Africa for example, a yellow fever vaccination is a common requirement,” says Uhlmann. “The ability to access it quickly via a digital vault on your phone not only makes access much easier while moving around, but if you travel often, you can find it each time you plan a new trip.”
• Relocating: different countries have different vaccination programmes. So having an easily accessible record of all the vaccinations your child has received will help any new healthcare provider determine if there’s anything still needed.
• Documenting reactions: “You can take pictures of reactions like rashes and upload them to the digital vault, so you have them on hand should a healthcare provider need them in the future, or just to be prepared when having the next round of vaccinations,” says Uhlmann.

how to prepare your child for vaccination day

“Vaccines usually don’t hurt as much as people expect,” says Dr Street. “Most children only feel a brief sting or pinch when the needle is inserted. Afterwards, they may experience mild side effects like a sore arm, fever or tiredness, but these typically go away within a few days.”

Five tips for a stress-free vaccination day:

1. Take your vaccination card (Road to Health card) so it can be updated.
2. Make the appointment when your child is well-rested and not overly hungry or sick.
3. Dress your child in comfortable clothing to allow easy access to the upper leg or arm.
4. Be prepared to comfort your child immediately with a favourite toy or snack. For younger babies, breastfeeding right after the shot can help soothe them.
5. If your child develops a fever after vaccination, you can give paracetamol to help lower it. (There’s no need to give paracetamol before the vaccination.)

If you notice anything concerning after the vaccination, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor or nurse. “The chances of serious side effects are very low,” says Dr Street. “And the protection vaccines offer against harmful diseases far outweigh any potential risks.”

protecting the vulnerable

It’s been 16 years and Dr Street still thinks about the children she saw suffering during the 2009 measles outbreak. “The experience reinforced my belief in the critical importance of vaccination. It’s not just about preventing an illness, it’s about saving lives, reducing suffering, and protecting those who are most vulnerable.”