Childhood vaccines

These are the routine vaccinations that are offered free of charge on the NHS to all babies and children in the UK.

A change to the childhood vaccination schedule means that from November 2010 rather than one visit at 12 months of age to give Hib/MenC and a second visit at 13 months of age to give PCV and MMR, the boosters of Hib/MenC and PCV are now offered with MMR in a single visit between 12 and 13 months of age (that is, within a month after the child's first birthday).

DTaP/IPV/Hib or 5-in-1 vaccine

Protects against: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and Hib (haemophilus influenza type B).
Given at: 2, 3 and 4 months of age.
More about the 5-in-1 vaccine

Pneumococcal (PCV)

Protects against: some types of pneumococcal infection.
Given at: 2, 4 and 12-13 months of age.
More about the pneumococcal jab

Meningitis C (MenC)

Protects against: meningitis C (meningococcal type C).
Given at: 3 and 4 months of age.
More about the MenC jab

Hib/MenC (booster)

Protects against: haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) and meningitis C.
Given at: 12-13 months of age.
More about the Hib/MenC booster

MMR

Protects against: measles, mumps and rubella.
Given at: 12-13 months and at 3 years and 4 months of age, or sometime thereafter. 
More about the MMR jab

DTaP/IPV (or dTaP/IPV) ‘pre-school’ booster

Protects against: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) and polio.
Given at: 3 years and 4 months of age or shortly thereafter.
More about the DTaP/IPV pre-school booster

Optional vaccinations

These vaccinations are offered, in addition to the routine programme, to special ‘at risk’ groups of babies and children.

Chickenpox (varicella) vaccination

Protects against: chickenpox.
Who needs it: siblings of children who have suppressed immune systems and are susceptible to chickenpox, for example, because they're having cancer treatment or have had an organ transplant. Given: from one year of age upwards (one dose for children from one year to 12 years. Two doses given 4-8 weeks apart for children aged 13 years or older).
More about the varicella jab
 

BCG (tuberculosis) vaccination

Protects against: tuberculosis (TB).

Who needs it: babies and children who have a high chance of coming into contact with tuberculosis.
Given: from birth to 16 years of age.
More about the BCG vaccine

Flu vaccination

Protects against: flu.

Who needs it: children with certain medical conditions or a weakened immune system, which may put them at risk of complications from flu.

Given: from six months and over in a single jab every year in October/November.
More about the flu jab

Hepatitis B vaccination

Protects against: hepatitis B.
Who needs it: children at high risk of exposure to hepatitis B, and babies born to infected mothers.
Given: at any age, as four doses given over 12 months. A baby born to a mother infected with hepatitis B will be offered a dose at birth, one month of age, 2 months of age and one year of age.
More on the hepatitis B vaccine