Medical checkups
Only an experienced paediatrician can assess whether a child's development is proceeding in line with normal expectations. When a newborn infant is discharged from the clinic, parents receive a yellow paediatric examination booklet where all examination results will be recorded as the child ages. Parents who move to Germany after the birth of a child should bring any medical records from abroad along with them and ask their German paediatrician for an examination booklet once settled. Parents will also receive a green check-up booklet for additional useful preventive medical checkups not included in the yellow booklet.
Altogether children receive eleven preventive medical checkups free of charge between birth and the age of 18: U1 to U9 and the J1 examination. In addition to these, the professional association of paediatricians and adolescent doctors recommends the U10, U11 and J2 examinations. However, the costs for these examinations are not currently reimbursed by all health insurance companies.
The Hamburg Senate has a system of initiatives for the U6 and U7 child screening examinations intended to promote children’s health and improve child protections. Between the 10th and 12th and the 21st and 24th months of life, parents will receive a letter reminding them of the preventive child health checkup. If the preventive medical checkup is missed, the health office will contact the parents.
The early detection and prevention examinations (U-examinations, vaccinations and dental examinations) should take place within certain periods of a child’s growth. Please make an appointment with your paediatrician or dentist in good time. You can find a paediatrician here.
This overview shows the early detection and prevention dates:
| U1 | Directly after birth |
| U2 | 3 to 10 days |
| U3 | 4 to 5 weeks |
| U4 | 3 to 4 months |
| U5 | 6 to 7 months |
| U6 | 10 to 12 months |
| U7 | 1 year + 9 months to 2 years |
| U7a | 2 years + 10 months to 3 years |
| U8 | 3 years + 10 months to 4 years |
| U9 | 5 years to 5 years + 4 months |
| J1 | 12 to 14 years |
| Dental examination | from 2 ½ years (3 examinations at an interval of at least 12 months until the age of 6) |
| Half-yearly dental checkup | from age 6 up |
Vaccinations
In Germany vaccination is not compulsory. However, a law on compulsory vaccination against measles will come into effect on first March, 2020. From this point on, all children aged one year and older must be vaccinated against measles when they enter school or daycare. This also applies to anyone working in community facilities or medical institutions. Vaccinations are always recommended, and you can always ask your paediatrician for more information. The paediatrician will also give you a vaccination pass booklet in which all vaccinations are recorded.
You can find out which vaccinations are recommended by checking the vaccination calendar (in German) below.
An overview of the required vaccination dates can be found here:
7th week of life |
from 9th week of life |
Late 3rd / early 4th month of life |
10th to 12th month of life (e.g. at the U6) |
from 1 year |
1 year + 3 months to 2 years |
5 to 6 years (e.g. with the U9) |
9 to 17 years |
