Immunisations are an important way we prevent illnesses that can result in life limiting changes such as blindness, deafness, brain damage and death. This is why children in the UK are immunised as a baby to give lifelong protection, the immunisations are given at certain ages to maintain your protection until you leave school.

6-in-one vaccine

Pneumococcal (PCV)

  • Protects against: some types of Pneumococcal infection
  • Given at: 8 weeks, 16 weeks and one year of age

Rotavirus vaccine

Meningitis B vaccine

  • Protects against: Meningitis (caused by Meningococcal type B bacteria)
  • Given at: 8 weeks, 16 weeks and one year of age
  • Read more about the Men B vaccine

Hib/Men C vaccine

MMR vaccine

  • Protects against: Measles, Mumps and Rubella (German Measles)
  • Given at: one year and at three years and four months of age
  • Read more about the MMR jab

Children's flu vaccine

  • Protects against: Flu
  • Given at: annually as a nasal spray in Sept/Oct for all children aged two to nine years on 31 August 2018
  • Read more about the flu vaccine for children

4-in-1 pre-school booster

Human Papilloma Vaccine

  • Protects against: cervical cancer
  • Given at: 12-13 years as two injections at least six months apart
  • Read more about the HPV vaccine

3-in-1 teenage booster

Meningitis ACWY

  • Protects against: Meningitis (caused by meningococcal types A, C, W and Y bacteria)
  • Given at: 14 years and new university students aged 19-25
  • Read more about the MenACWY vaccine

Optional vaccinations

These vaccinations are offered on the NHS in addition to the routine programme to "at-risk" groups of babies and children.

Chickenpox vaccination

  • Protects against: chickenpox
  • Who needs it: siblings of children who have suppressed immune systems and are susceptible to chickenpox, for example because they're having cancer treatment or have had an organ transplant.
  • Given: from one year of age upwards. Children receive two doses of chickenpox vaccine given four to eight weeks apart.
  • Read more about the chickenpox jab

BCG (tuberculosis) vaccination

  • Protects against: tuberculosis (TB)
  • Who needs it: babies and children who have a high chance of coming into contact with tuberculosis.
  • Given: from birth to 16 years of age.

Flu

  • Protects against: flu
  • Who needs it: children aged six months to two years and those aged nine to 17 who have certain medical conditions or a weakened immune system, which may put them at risk of complications from flu. (All children aged two to eight years are given the flu vaccine as part of the routine immunisation schedule.)
  • Given: for children between the ages of six months and two years as a single jab every year in September/November. For children aged nine to 17 years of age as a nasal spray every year in September/November.
  • Read more about the nasal spray flu vaccine and the flu jab

Hepatitis B

  • Protects against: Hepatitis B
  • Who needs it: children at high risk of exposure to hepatitis B, and babies born to infected mothers.
  • Given: as six doses over 12 months – a baby born to a mother infected with hepatitis B will be given a dose at birth, followed by further doses at 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age, and a final dose at one year

More information on vaccinations can be found below.

Find out about our Vaccination and Immunisation Service