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4-in-1 pre-school booster vaccine

The 4-in-1 pre-school booster helps protect against serious illnesses such as polio and tetanus. It's given to children aged 3 years, 4 months old before they start school.

What the 4-in-1 pre-school booster is for

The 4-in-1 pre-school booster helps protect children against 4 serious illnesses:

It boosts the protection provided by the 6-in-1 vaccine.

Who should have the 4-in-1 pre-school booster

The 4-in-1 pre-school booster is recommended for children aged 3 years, 4 months old before they start school.

They're given 1 dose of the vaccine as part of the NHS vaccination schedule.

If your child has missed their 4-in-1 pre-school booster, contact their GP surgery. It's best to have it on time, but they can still have the 4-in-1 vaccine up to the age of 10.

Who cannot have the 4-in-1 pre-school booster

Most children can have the 4-in-1 pre-school booster.

The only reasons your child cannot have the vaccine is if either:

  • they've had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a vaccine that protects against diphtheria, polio, tetanus or whooping cough (such as the 6-in-1 vaccine)
  • they've had a serious allergic reaction to anything in the vaccine (including neomycin, polymyxin or formaldehyde)
Information:

Getting vaccinated if your child is unwell

Your child can have the 4-in-1 vaccine if they're unwell but they do not have a high temperature.

If your child has a high temperature, wait until they're feeling better before having the vaccine.

4-in-1 pre-school booster ingredients

There are 2 types of 4-in-1 pre-school booster vaccines given in the UK. You can check the ingredients in the patient leaflets:

How to get the 4-in-1 pre-school booster

Your GP surgery will usually contact you about your child's 4-in-1 pre-school booster. This will usually be by letter, text, phone call or email.

It's best to have the 4-in-1 pre-school booster on time, but children can still have it up to the age of 10.

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

  • you have not been contacted to get your child's 4-in-1 pre-school booster
  • your child has missed their 4-in-1 pre-school booster
  • your child is unwell and is due to have the 4-in-1 pre-school booster – they may need to wait until they're feeling better before having the vaccine
  • you need to change a vaccination appointment

Your GP surgery can book or rearrange an appointment.

Side effects of the 4-in-1 pre-school booster

Most of the side effects of the 4-in-1 pre-school booster are mild and usually get better within a few days.

They can include:

  • swelling or pain where the injection was given
  • feeling tired or irritable
  • a high temperature
  • a headache

A hard lump may appear where the vaccine was given, but this will usually go after a few weeks.

More serious side effects such as a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) are very rare. The person who vaccinates your child will be trained to deal with allergic reactions and treat them immediately.

Page last reviewed: 13 December 2023
Next review due: 13 December 2026