childhood immunisation schedule

Last edited 09/2023 and last reviewed 09/2023

The vaccines that children and adults should receive are included in the tables below:

The complete schedule as of September 2023 is:

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 years 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 Nimenrix Upper arm
Selective childhood immunisation programmes
Target group Age and schedule Disease Vaccines required
Babies born to hepatitis B infected mothers At birth, 4 weeks and 12 months old [footnote 7], [footnote 8] Hepatitis B Hepatitis B (Engerix B/HBvaxPRO)  
Infants in areas of the country with tuberculosis (TB) incidence >= 40/100,000 Around 28 days old [footnote 9] Tuberculosis BCG  
Infants with a parent or grandparent born in a high incidence country [footnote 10] Around 28 days old [footnote 9] Tuberculosis BCG  
Children in a clinical risk group From 6 months to 17 years of age Influenza LAIV or inactivated flu vaccine if contraindicated to LAIV or under 2 years of age  
Pregnant women At any stage of pregnancy during flu season Influenza Inactivated flu vaccine  
  From 16 weeks gestation Pertussis dTaP/IPV (Boostrix-IPV)  

  1. Intramuscular injection into deltoid muscle in upper arm or anterolateral aspect of the thigh. 

  2. Rotavirus vaccine should only be given after checking for a severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) screening result.    2

  3. Contains porcine gelatine.    2  3

  4. See annual flu letter 

  5. If LAIV (live attenuated influenza vaccine) is contraindicated or otherwise unsuitable use inactivated flu vaccine (check Green Book chapter 19 for details). 

  6. See Green Book chapter 18a for immunising immunocompromised young people who will need 3 doses. 

  7. Take blood for HBsAg at 12 months to exclude infection. 

  8. In addition hexavalent vaccine (Infanrix hexa or Vaxelis) is given at 8, 12 and 16 weeks. 

  9. Check SCID screening outcome before giving BCG. 2

  10. Where the annual incidence of TB is >= 40/100,000 - see tuberculosis by country: rates per 100,000 people 

For further information about the immunisation schedule then access http://www.immunisation.nhs.uk/

Note that hepatitis B vaccine should be given soon after birth, at 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 months if the mother is known to hepatitis surface antigen positive.

Note also that adults should receive:

  • if previously unimmunised: polio, tetanus and diphtheria
  • sero-negative women: rubella
  • high risk groups: hepatitis A and B, influenza and pneumococcal vaccines

Reference:

  1. Public Health England (September 2023). Routine childhood immunisations Schedule.

Related pages:

meningococcal vaccination

paediatric immunisations

prematurity and immunisation

HPV vaccine

BCG vaccination

vaccination for immunising individuals with asplenia, splenic dysfunction or complement disorders

vaccination of individuals with uncertain (unknown) or incomplete immunisation status