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Immunisations

The facts

Vaccines:

  • protect you and your child from many serious and potentially deadly diseases
  • protect other people in your community – by helping to stop diseases spreading to people who cannot have vaccines
  • undergo rigorous safety testing before being introduced – they’re also constantly monitored for side effects after being introduced
  • sometimes cause mild side effects that will not last long – some children may feel a bit unwell and have a sore arm for 2 or 3 days
  • reduce or even get rid of some diseases – if enough people are vaccinated

The importance of COVID 19 vaccination remains clear and receiving a full course of vaccination, in particular a booster dose, is crucial in providing the necessary level of protection. This is particularly the case for those working in health and social care who have a duty to protect those they care for, whether or not COVID 19 vaccination is mandatory, and the efforts of the health and social care sector to encourage staff to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations have been outstanding.

NHS vaccination schedule

Babies under 1 year old

A table showing when vaccines are offered to babies under 1 year old
Age Vaccines
8 weeks 6-in-1 vaccine
Rotavirus vaccine
MenB
12 weeks 6-in-1 vaccine (2nd dose)
Pneumococcal (PCV) vaccine
Rotavirus vaccine (2nd dose)
16 weeks 6-in-1 vaccine (3rd dose)
MenB (2nd dose)

Children aged 1 to 15

A table showing when vaccines are offered to children aged 1 to 15
Age Vaccines
1 year Hib/MenC (1st dose)
MMR (1st dose)
Pneumococcal (PCV) vaccine (2nd dose)
MenB (3rd dose)
2 to 10 years Flu vaccine (every year)
3 years and 4 months MMR (2nd dose)
4-in-1 pre-school booster
5 to 15 years COVID-19 vaccine (1st and 2nd dose)
12 to 13 years HPV vaccine
14 years 3-in-1 teenage booster
MenACWY

Adults

A table showing when adults are offered vaccines
Age Vaccines
16 years and over COVID-19 vaccine (1st, 2nd and booster dose)
50 years (and every year after) Flu vaccine
65 years Pneumococcal (PPV) vaccine
70 years Shingles vaccine

Pregnant women

A table showing when pregnant women are offered vaccines
When it's offered Vaccines
During flu season Flu vaccine
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

Non-urgent advice:Speak to your GP surgery if:

  • you think you or your child have missed any vaccinations
  • you or your child have a vaccination appointment – but you've missed it or cannot attend

They can book or rearrange the next available appointment.

It’s best to have vaccines on time, but you can still catch up on most vaccines if you miss them.

 

NHS vaccination schedule

Babies under 1 year old

A table showing when vaccines are offered to babies under 1 year old
Age Vaccines
8 weeks 6-in-1 vaccine
Rotavirus vaccine
MenB
12 weeks 6-in-1 vaccine (2nd dose)
Pneumococcal (PCV) vaccine
Rotavirus vaccine (2nd dose)
16 weeks 6-in-1 vaccine (3rd dose)
MenB (2nd dose)

Children aged 1 to 15

A table showing when vaccines are offered to children aged 1 to 15
Age Vaccines
1 year Hib/MenC (1st dose)
MMR (1st dose)
Pneumococcal (PCV) vaccine (2nd dose)
MenB (3rd dose)
2 to 10 years Flu vaccine (every year)
3 years and 4 months MMR (2nd dose)
4-in-1 pre-school booster
5 to 15 years COVID-19 vaccine (1st and 2nd dose)
12 to 13 years HPV vaccine
14 years 3-in-1 teenage booster
MenACWY

Adults

A table showing when adults are offered vaccines
Age Vaccines
16 years and over COVID-19 vaccine (1st, 2nd and booster dose)
50 years (and every year after) Flu vaccine
65 years Pneumococcal (PPV) vaccine
70 years Shingles vaccine

Pregnant women

A table showing when pregnant women are offered vaccines
When it's offered Vaccines
During flu season Flu vaccine
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

Non-urgent advice:Speak to your GP surgery if:

  • you think you or your child have missed any vaccinations
  • you or your child have a vaccination appointment – but you've missed it or cannot attend

They can book or rearrange the next available appointment.

It’s best to have vaccines on time, but you can still catch up on most vaccines if you miss them.

 

Information on why vaccination is important and details of those vaccinations available on the NHS and when to have them: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/

Information on COVID 19 vaccination: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/

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