It’s important that vaccines are given on time for the best protection, but if you or your child missed a vaccine, contact your GP to catch up.
One of the best ways to protect your against diseases like measles, rubella, tetanus and meningitis is through immunisations.
As well as protecting your own child, you’re also protecting others by preventing the spread of disease.
Vaccinations are offered free of charge in the UK – just book your appointments with your GP.
NHS vaccination schedule for children
Vaccines for babies under 1 year old
Age
Vaccines
8 weeks
12 weeks
16 weeks
Vaccines for children aged 1 to 15
Age
Vaccines
1 year
Pneumococcal vaccine (2nd dose)
2 to 15 years
Children’s flu vaccine (every year until children finish Year 11 of secondary school)
3 years and 4 months
4-in-1 pre-school booster vaccine
12 to 13 years
14 years
Td/IPV vaccine (3-in-1 teenage booster)
The children’s flu vaccine is given as a spray squirted up each nostril. It’s quick and painless. It helps protect your child from flu and reduces the chance of them spreading it.
If your child is aged between 6 months and 2 years and has a long-term health condition that makes them at higher risk from flu, they’ll be offered a flu vaccine injection instead of the nasal spray.
Flu symptoms
Children can catch and spread the flu easily. Symptoms include:
· fever
· chills
· aching muscles
· headache
· stuffy nose
· dry cough
· sore throat
Flu is caused by the influenza virus. It can be a very unpleasant illness for children.
It can also lead to serious problems, such as bronchitis and pneumonia.
Read about when your child should have the flu vaccine on the NHS website.
Vaccines for adults
Age
Vaccines
65 years
Flu vaccine (given every year after turning 65)
Shingles vaccine (if you turned 65 on or after 1 September 2023)
70 to 79 years
Vaccines for pregnant women
When it’s offered
Vaccines
During flu season
From 16 weeks pregnant
Whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine
Extra vaccines for at-risk people
Some vaccines are only available on the NHS for groups of people who need extra protection.
See vaccines for at-risk babies and children
See vaccines for people with underlying health conditions
Important
If you’re starting college or university, you should make sure you’ve already had:
· the MenACWY vaccine – which protects against serious infections like meningitis. You can still ask your GP for this vaccine until your 25th birthday.
· 2 doses of the MMR vaccine – as there are outbreaks of mumps and measles at universities. If you have not previously had 2 doses of MMR, you can still ask your GP for the vaccine.
· the HPV vaccine – which helps protect against genital warts and cancers caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), such as cervical cancer.