Children’s Health (0-6 years)

Giving your children the best start in life.

Immunisations

Here's a checklist of the vaccines that are routinely offered to everyone in the UK for free on the NHS, and the age at which your child should ideally have them.

Two Months Old

  • Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)

    • Vaccine given: DTaP/IPV/Hib (Pediacel)

    • Site**: Thigh

  • Pneumococcal disease

    • Vaccine given: PCV (Prevenar 13)

    • Site**: Thigh

  • Rotavirus

    • Vaccine given: Rotavirus (Rotarix)

    • Site**: By mouth

  • Meningococcal group B (MenB)

    • Vaccine given: MenB

    • Site**: Left thigh

Three Months Old

  • Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)

    • Vaccine given: DTaP/IPV/Hib (Pediacel)

    • Site**: Thigh

  • Meningococcal group C disease (MenC)

    • Vaccine given: Men C (NeisVac-C or Menjugate)

    • Site**: Thigh

  • Rotavirus

    • Vaccine given: Rotavirus (Rotarix)

    • Site**: By mouth

Four Months Old

  • Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)

    • Vaccine given: DTaP/IPV/Hib (Pediacel)

    • Site**: Thigh

  • Pneumococcal disease

    • Vaccine given: PCV (Prevenar 13)

    • Site**: Thigh

  • Meningococcal group B (MenB)

    • Vaccine given: MenB

    • Site**: Left thigh

One Year Old

  • Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)/MenC

    • Vaccine given: Hib/MenC (Menitorix)

    • Site**: Upper arm/thigh

  • Pneumococcal disease

    • Vaccine given: PCV (Prevenar 13)

    • Site**: Upper arm/thigh

  • Measles, mumps and rubella (German measles)

    • Vaccine given: MMR(Priorix or MMR VaxPRO)

    • Site**: Upper arm/thigh

  • Meningococcal group B (MenB)

    • Vaccine given: MenB booster

    • Site**: Left thigh

Two to Six Years Old (including children in school years 1 and 2)

  • Influenza (each year from September)

    • Vaccine given: Live attenuated influenza vaccine LAIV4

    • Site**: Both nostrils

Three years and four months old (or soon after)

  • Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio

    • Vaccine given: dTaP/IPV (Repevax) or DTaP/IPV(Infanrix-IPV)

    • Site**: Upper arm

  • Measles, mumps and rubella (German measles)

    • Vaccine given: MMR (Priorix or MMR VaxPRO)(check first dose has been given)

    • Site**: Upper arm

** Where two or more injections are required at once, these should ideally be given in different limbs. Where this is not possible, injections in the same limb should be given 2.5cm apart.

Immunisations for at-risk children

 

Babies born to hepatitis B infected mothers

  • Hepatitis B

    • Vaccine required: Hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix B / HBvaxPRO)

    • Age and schedule: at birth, four weeks, eight weeks, and Booster at one year

Infants in areas of the country with TB incidence >= 40/100,000

  • Tuberculosis

    • Vaccine required: BCG

    • Age and schedule: at birth

Infants with a parent or grandparent born in a high TB incidence country

  • Tuberculosis

    • Vaccine required: BCG

    • Age and schedule: at birth

When should I worry?

 

Having an ill child can be a very scary experience for parents. If you understand more about the illness it can help you to feel more in control. This booklet is for parents (and older children) and deals with common infections in children who are normally healthy.