Recent statistics show that childhood vaccination coverage improved in 2025, but gaps in vaccine protection remain among school-aged children. Approximately 30% of 7-year-olds had not received the prescribed booster vaccine in 2025, and about a quarter of young people will graduate from school without a booster dose of the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine.
While young people were able to get vaccinated against HPV at family health centers in the summer, they will be able to get vaccinated again at school from autumn. In addition to the HPV vaccine, schoolchildren will receive two important booster vaccinations: one against measles, mumps and rubella and the other against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.
“At the beginning of the school year, it is worth checking which vaccines the child has already received and which ones are still to be given. We also ask parents to ensure that the necessary consent for vaccinations at school reaches the school nurse. This way, the school nurse can provide the child with the necessary protection at the right time,” Hanna Jäe, the Health Insurance Fund’s vaccination service manager, told all parents.
According to the latest statistics from the Health Board, the vaccination coverage of children for several diseases is still below 95% - a level that would help effectively slow the spread of infections. According to 2025 data, 69.7% of 7-year-olds had been revaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, and 74.7% of 14-year-olds had been revaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella. 74.8% of 16-year-olds have received a revaccination against diphtheria and tetanus. HPV vaccination coverage among 16-year-olds reached 62 percent in 2025, which is 10% more than the year before, but still remains below the desired level.
That vaccine-preventable diseases have not disappeared from Europe was also shown by a recent case in Sweden, where three participants in the Urkulti music festival were diagnosed with measles. According to the Swedish National Board of Health, 24 people have already been infected so far.
“Measles and pertussis continue to be registered in Estonia. If the level of protection remains low, the infection spreads more easily,” said Irina Filippova, Head of the Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Department of the Health Board. “Measles are very contagious and can move quickly from country to country. Therefore, it is important that there are no gaps in children's vaccinations,” added Filippova.
Good to know!
7-year-olds are vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis before school. At school, young people aged 12–18 can get vaccinated against HPV for free, 13-year-olds can get a booster shot against measles, mumps and rubella, and 15–16-year-olds can get a booster shot against diphtheria and tetanus. If you have missed any vaccines, you should get them as soon as possible, in consultation with your family doctor or school nurse.
See more about childhood vaccinations.