Childhood immunisations
Vaccinations.
Vaccines are designed to help your child’s immune system recognise and fight off serious diseases, keeping them safe from illnesses that could cause long-term complications or even be life-threatening. Beyond safeguarding your child, vaccines also help protect the community, including family members, friends, and vulnerable individuals who can’t be vaccinated.
Why you should get your child vaccinated.
Routine childhood immunisations
When | Diseases protected against | Vaccine given | Trade name | Usual site [footnote 1] |
8 weeks old | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and hepatitis B | DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB | Infanrix hexa or Vaxelis | Thigh |
Meningococcal group B (MenB) | MenB | Bexsero | Left thigh | |
Rotavirus gastroenteritis | Rotavirus | Rotarix [footnote 2] | By mouth | |
12 weeks old | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib and hepatitis B | DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB | Infanrix hexa or Vaxelis | Thigh |
Pneumococcal (13 serotypes) | PCV | Prevenar 13 | Thigh | |
Rotavirus | Rotavirus | Rotarix [footnote 2] | By mouth | |
16 weeks old | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib and hepatitis B | DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB | Infanrix hexa or Vaxelis | Thigh |
MenB | MenB | Bexsero | Left thigh | |
One year old (on or after the child’s first birthday) | Hib and Meningococcal group C (MenC) | Hib/MenC | Menitorix | Upper arm or thigh |
Pneumococcal | PCV booster | Prevenar 13 | Upper arm or thigh | |
Measles, mumps and rubella (German measles) | MMR | MMRvaxPro [footnote 3] or Priorix | Upper arm or thigh | |
MenB | MenB booster | Bexsero | Left thigh | |
Eligible paediatric age group [footnote 4] | Influenza (each year from September) | Live attenuated influenza vaccine LAIV | Fluenz Tetra [footnote 3], [footnote 5] | Both nostrils |
3 years 4 months old or soon after | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio | dTaP/IPV | Boostrix-IPV | Upper arm |
Measles, mumps and rubella | MMR (check first dose given) | MMRvaxPro [footnote 3] or Priorix | Upper arm | |
Boys and girls aged 12 to 13 years | Cancers and genital warts caused by specific human papillomavirus (HPV) types | HPV [footnote 6] | Gardasil 9 | Upper arm |
14 years old (school Year 9) | Tetanus, diphtheria and polio | Td/IPV (check MMR status) | Revaxis | Upper arm |
Meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y | MenACWY | MenQuadfi | Upper arm |