Childhood immunisation programme
The immunisation programme gives vaccines to babies and children at different ages. Routine immunisation for babies begins when they are eight weeks old. Your child needs several vaccines to protect them from infections, so it’s important to complete their immunisation programme.
Changes to the childhood immunisation programme
The childhood vaccination schedule changed on 1 July 2025.
There will be further changes from 1 January 2026.
What vaccines your child will receive and when will depend on:
- the vaccines they have already received
- when they were born
The routine childhood vaccination schedule from January 2026
Your child will be invited for vaccines under the updated routine immunisation schedule is as follows:
Eight weeks old
- six-in-one vaccine (first dose)
rotavirus vaccine (first dose)
MenB vaccine (first dose)
Twelve weeks old
six-in-one vaccine (second dose)
rotavirus vaccine (second dose)
MenB vaccine (second dose)
Sixteen weeks old
six-in-one vaccine (third dose)
pneumococcal vaccine (PCV) (first dose)
One year old
One year old born on or after 1 July 2024
MMR vaccine (first dose)*
pneumococcal vaccine (PCV) (second dose)
MenB vaccine (third dose)
*If your child was born between 1 July 2024 and 31 December 2024 they may have already received one dose of MMR at their one year old appointment. They will be invited for MMRV at further appointments.
One year old born before 1 July 2024
- MMR vaccine (first dose)
- pneumococcal vaccine (PCV) (second dose)
- Hib/ MenC vaccine*
*If they have not yet had their one-year-old appointment, they may be offered either the Hib/ MenC vaccine or a fourth dose of the six-in-one vaccine to protect against Hib.
New eighteen-month appointment (from January 2026)
18 month appointment born on or after 1 July 2024
MMRV vaccine (second dose)*
six-in-one vaccine (fourth dose)
*If your child was born between 1 July 2024 and 31 December 2024 they may have already received one dose of MMR at their one-year-old appointment. They will now be invited for their first MMRV appointment.
There is no 18 month appointment for children born before 1 July 2024.
Two years to fifteen years of age
flu vaccine (annually until Year 12)
Three years and four months old
As part of the introduction to MMRV, the vaccines your child is eligible for at this appointment will depend on their date of birth.
Born on or after January 2025
four-in-one vaccine - diptheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio
Born between 1 July and 31 December 2024
- MMRV vaccine (second dose)
- four-in-one vaccine
Born between 1 September 2022 and 30 June 2024
- MMRV vaccine (first dose)
- four-in-one vaccine (first dose)
Born on or before 31 August 2022
- MMR vaccine (second dose)
- four-in-one vaccine (first dose)
Twelve to thirteen years old
HPV vaccine (one dose)
Fourteen years old to young adults
three-in-one teenage vaccine – diphtheria, tetanus, polio (one dose)
Meningococcal MenACWY vaccine (one dose)
Speak to your child’s health visitor or GP if you have any questions about recent changes to the schedule, or if you need information on older schedules.
It is important to bring your child for vaccination at the time they are invited to help keep them healthy and protect them from serious diseases.
If they miss any of the vaccines they were invited to, speak to your GP or health visitor. They will advise what vaccination your child should get and when.
When and where your child will get vaccines
The Child Health system or your doctor’s surgery usually sends out your invitation to make vaccination appointments.
Your child can get some vaccinations in school. The school will contact you before they give your child a vaccine.
It is important that vaccines are given on time for the best protection, but if your child missed a vaccination, contact your GP to catch up.
You will continue to be called for all your child’s scheduled vaccination appointments when they are due.
Remember, vaccinations are safe, effective and can save lives.
Premature babies
Premature babies may be at greater risk of infection.
They should be vaccinated according to the recommended schedule from eight weeks after birth, no matter how premature.
Some babies may need additional vaccines soon after they are born if they are at high risk. For example, some very high-risk babies can get the RSV vaccine to protect them against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) during the winter months.
Giving paracetamol to a premature baby
If your baby isn’t in hospital, it’s important to have infant paracetamol at home before they have their MenB vaccine, as it can cause a fever.
It is important to check the dose with your doctor who can advise what the right dose of paracetamol is for your baby’s weight.
Allergic reactions to a vaccine
On rare occasions, babies may experience an allergic reaction to a vaccine, which can cause:
- a rash or itching
- difficulty breathing or collapse, also known as anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis can happen within minutes of a baby getting vaccinated.
This reaction means your baby is allergic to an ingredient in a vaccine.
It’s a worrying and a rare side effect that can be treated to allow a quick and full recovery.
Before your baby has further vaccines, you must tell the doctor or nurse about any previous allergic reaction.
Yellow Card Scheme
A parent or carer can use the Yellow Card Scheme to report side effects of vaccines and medicines.
Why your baby might not get a vaccine
There are some reasons why immunisation might not be right for your baby.
It’s important to tell your GP or nurse about any illnesses or allergies your baby has had.
Before vaccination, the doctor or nurse needs to know if your baby:
- has a very high temperature, vomiting or diarrhoea on the day of the appointment
- has had convulsions or fits
- had a bad reaction to a previous immunisation
- is allergic to anything
- has a bleeding disorder
- has had or is having treatment for cancer
- has an illness that affects the immune system, for example leukaemia, HIV or AIDS
- takes medicine that affects the immune system, for example high dose steroids or treatments given after organ transplant or for cancers
- has any other serious illness
Knowing about your baby’s health helps the doctor or nurse choose the best immunisations.
A family history of illness doesn’t mean your baby can't have a vaccination.