Do I have to get my child vaccinated? Will a nursery take an unvaccinated child?
In short
Yes, the polio vaccine is compulsory for all babies. French-speaking nurseries also require other vaccines; Dutch-speaking nurseries do not require them but recommend them.
Video transcript
Your baby is growing; you are thinking of putting off the vaccines. Required: The polio vaccine is compulsory for all babies. French-speaking daycares require other vaccines too. The right way: Get the vaccines on time. Give the municipality the full vaccination certificate by 18 months at the latest. Outcome: No polio vaccine: Level 1 penalty; French-speaking daycare: Child may be refused; Municipality: Asks for the certificate.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- In Belgium, the polio vaccine is the only compulsory vaccine for all babies (Royal Decree of 26 October 1966).
- You must give the municipality the full vaccination certificate by the time your child is 18 months old at the latest.
- In French-speaking nurseries (ONE), vaccines against polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, Hib, measles, rubella and mumps are compulsory.
- In Flanders and in Dutch-speaking nurseries in Brussels, vaccines are not compulsory, but you are strongly advised to follow the basic vaccination schedule.
- If your child was vaccinated abroad (for example, in your home country) in line with that country's rules, the certificate is accepted. If the certificate is missing or the vaccinations are incomplete, the doctor decides.
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- The law provides for a fine for not having your child vaccinated against polio. Since 1 September 2026, this counts as a level 1 penalty (such as a fine or community service). If the vaccination requirement is not met at a French-speaking nursery, the child may be refused a place.
Legal basis:Gezondheidswet 1.9.1945, art. 5 + KB 26.10.1966, art. 8
- Court / prison
- The old law provided for 8 days – 1 month in prison. Under the new Criminal Code, there is no prison at level 1.
Legal basis:Gezondheidswet 1.9.1945, art. 5 + Strafwetboek Boek I, art. 78 §1, 8°
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- You may not get a place at a French-speaking nursery (ONE)
Legal basis:zichvestigeninbelgie.be – Preventieve gezondheidsmaatregelen
- The municipality can ask you for the missing polio certificate
Legal basis:vlaanderen.be – Registratie poliovaccinatie
- Even though other vaccines are not compulsory, your child and the people around them are at risk during outbreaks
Why does this rule exist?
Vaccines protect the child and babies who are too young to be vaccinated. At nursery, diseases spread very quickly among small children; that is why French-speaking nurseries require extra vaccines.
Where can you go?
- Violence helplineFlanders 1712 (weekdays 09–18) · Wallonia and Brussels 0800 30 030 (partner violence), 103 (child abuse) · Emergency 112
- Child and family servicesFlanders: Kind en Gezin / Opgroeien · Wallonia and Brussels: ONE
- School guidance centreThe school's CLB / centre PMS
- Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.
This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses
Source and reliability
Official source- Source check
- 9 / 9 statements in an official source
- Checked: 12.10.2026
- Last checked
- 12.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 9 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
Polio tek zorunlu aşı; KB 26.10.1966
vlaanderen.be – Registratie poliovaccinatie - Found in an official source
Belge en geç 18 ayda belediyeye
vlaanderen.be – Registratie poliovaccinatie - Found in an official source
Fransızca kreş: polio, difteri, kinkhoest, Hib, mazelen, rodehond, bof zorunlu
Zich vestigen in België (federale overheid/Your Europe), publicatiedatum 2 september 2026 - Found in an official source
Flamanca kreşte zorunlu değil, şiddetle önerilir
Zich vestigen in België, 2 september 2026 - Found in an official source
Yurt dışı aşı şeması menşe ülke kurallarına uygunsa kabul; eksikse doktor karar verir
vlaanderen.be – Registratie poliovaccinatie - Found in an official source
Polio için eski kanunda (1 Eylül 1945 kanunu md. 5) para ve hapis cezası
Gezondheidswet 1.9.1945, art. 5 + KB 26.10.1966, art. 8 - Found in an official source
Belediye belgeyi isteyebilir
vlaanderen.be – Registratie poliovaccinatie - Found in an official source
Eski ceza 8 gün–1 ay hapis ve/veya para; 1.9.2026'dan beri seviye 1 (hapis yok)
Gezondheidswet 1.9.1945, art. 5 + Strafwetboek Boek I, art. 78 §1, 8° - Found in an official source
FWB kreşlerinde 7 aşı zorunludur
zichvestigeninbelgie.be – Preventieve gezondheidsmaatregelen
The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.
General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?