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Vaccines Not Administered at Family Care Centers

18 October 2026

In addition to routine vaccines administered at Family Care Centers, the Ministry of Health recommends 4 additional vaccines: influenza (flu), meningococcal B, human papillomavirus (HPV), and pertussis (whooping cough) during pregnancy. These vaccines are not administered at Family Care Centers but are available through HMOs, schools, or Health Bureaus. Most are free of charge.

Influenza (flu): Influenza can cause severe illness and require hospitalization, particularly in young children. For this reason, the Ministry of Health recommends annual vaccination for everyone over 6 months of age. The vaccine is available free of charge through HMOs before winter. Students in grades 2–4 also receive it at school.

Meningococcal B: This bacterium can cause meningitis and other serious infections. Vaccination is recommended primarily for infants and toddlers. The vaccine is not included in the national health benefits basket and is available for a fee through HMOs with a medical referral. Check with your HMO to see whether supplemental insurance can reduce the cost.

Human papillomavirus (HPV): The virus can cause cervical cancer and other types of cancer. The vaccine is administered to girls and boys in 2 doses at school, in grades 7 and 8, free of charge. Those who have not been vaccinated can receive catch-up vaccination free of charge at a Health Bureau up to age 18, and through HMOs or the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) up to age 26.

Pertussis (whooping cough): The disease is particularly dangerous for infants and toddlers, and full protection is achieved only after receiving 4 vaccine doses during the first year of life. Therefore, vaccination is recommended during every pregnancy to protect the baby from birth. The vaccine is included in the national health benefits basket, with a copayment, and is available through HMOs between weeks 27 and 36 of pregnancy.

At Family Care Centers, children receive all routine immunizations free of charge. These vaccines protect against the most common and dangerous childhood diseases.

In addition to routine immunizations, the Ministry of Health recommends several other vaccines. These are not administered at Family Care Centers, but rather through HMOs, schools, or Health Bureaus. Most are provided free of charge.

Recommended Vaccines

  • Influenza vaccine

    Why it is recommended: Influenza can be a serious illness. It sometimes causes complications and may even require hospitalization, especially in young children.

    Ministry of Health recommendation: Annual vaccination for everyone over 6 months of age.

    Where to get vaccinated: The vaccine is available free of charge at HMOs before each winter. Students in grades 2, 3, and 4 (and special education students in grades 1–6) receive the vaccine at school as part of student health services.

    More information about the influenza vaccine

  • Meningococcal B vaccine (Bexsero)

    Why it is recommended: Meningococcal bacteria can cause meningitis and other serious infections.

    Ministry of Health recommendation: Vaccination is recommended primarily for infants and toddlers (the vaccine is suitable for all ages).

    Where to get vaccinated: The vaccine is not included in the national health benefits package, so it is available for a fee through your HMO with a medical referral. Check with your HMO about subsidized pricing through supplemental health insurance.

    More information about the meningococcal B vaccine

  • Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine

    Why it is recommended: The vaccine protects against a virus that can cause cervical cancer and other types of cancer.

    Ministry of Health recommendation: Vaccination of girls and boys in two doses – the first in 7th grade and the second in 8th grade (in the Ashkelon District and Safed Subdistrict, both doses are given in 8th grade, approximately six months apart).

    Where to get vaccinated: The vaccine is provided free of charge at school. If you did not receive the vaccine at school, you can catch up on vaccination through age 18, free of charge, at a Health Bureau. From age 18 through age 26, you can catch up on vaccination free of charge at HMOs, Health Bureaus, or through the IDF (upon enlistment).

    More information about the HPV vaccine

  • Pertussis vaccine

    Why it is recommended: Pertussis (whooping cough) is particularly dangerous for infants and young children, and its complications can cause disability and death.

    Ministry of Health recommendation: Under the routine immunization schedule, all infants receive 4 doses of the vaccine during their first year of life, and full protection is achieved only after completing all 4 doses. For this reason, it is important for every woman to get vaccinated against pertussis during pregnancy so that her baby is protected from birth.

    Where to get vaccinated: The vaccine is included in the health benefits basket for pregnant women and is available through HMOs, with a copayment, between weeks 27 and 36 of pregnancy.

    Learn more about pertussis vaccination during pregnancy

    Learn more about vaccinations during and before pregnancy

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