NHS vaccinations and when to have them
It’s important that vaccines are given on time for the best protection, but if you or your child missed a vaccine, contact your GP to catch up.
NHS vaccination schedule
Vaccines for babies under 1 year old
| Age | Vaccines |
|---|---|
| 8 weeks | 6-in-1 vaccine Rotavirus vaccine MenB vaccine |
| 12 weeks | 6-in-1 vaccine (2nd dose) Pneumococcal vaccine Rotavirus vaccine (2nd dose) |
| 16 weeks | 6-in-1 vaccine (3rd dose) MenB vaccine (2nd dose) |
| Age | Vaccines |
|---|---|
| 1 year | Hib/MenC vaccine (1st dose) MMR vaccine (1st dose) Pneumococcal vaccine (2nd dose) MenB vaccine (3rd dose) |
| 2 to 15 years | Children’s flu vaccine (every year until children finish Year 11 of secondary school) |
| 18 months | MMR vaccine (2nd dose) |
| 3 year 4 months | https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/4-in-1-pre-school-dtap-ipv-booster/ |
| 12 to 13 years | HPV vaccine |
| 14 years | 3-in-1 teenage booster vaccine MenACWY vaccine |
Vaccines for adults
| Age | Vaccines |
|---|---|
| 65 years | Flu vaccine (given every year after turning 65) Pneumococcal vaccine Shingles vaccine (if you turned 65 on or after 1 September 2023) |
| 70 to 79 years | Shingles vaccine |
Vaccines for pregnant women
| 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.
See vaccines for at-risk babies and children
Vaccines for at-risk babies and children
Babies born to mothers who have hepatitis B
Hepatitis B vaccine at birth, 4 weeks and 12 months
Children born in areas of the country where there are high numbers of TB cases
BCG tuberculosis (TB) vaccine at around 4 weeks
Children whose parents or grandparents were born in a country with many cases of TB
BCG tuberculosis (TB) vaccine at around 4 weeks
Children 6 months to 17 years old with long-term health conditions
Children’s flu vaccine every year
See vaccines for people with underlying health conditions
Vaccines for people with underlying health conditions
Problems with the spleen, for example caused by sickle cell disease or coeliac disease
Cochlear implants
Chronic respiratory and heart conditions, such as severe asthma or heart failure
Chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease or a learning disability
Diabetes
Chronic kidney disease
Chronic liver conditions
Haemophilia
Weakened immune system caused by treatments or disease
Shingles vaccine (if aged 50 or over)
Complement disorders or people receiving complement inhibitor therapies
Non-urgent advice: Important
If you’re starting college or university, you should make sure you’ve already had:
the MenACWY vaccine – which protects against serious infections like meningitis. You can still ask your GP for this vaccine until your 25th birthday.
2 doses of the MMR vaccine – as there are outbreaks of mumps and measles at universities. If you have not previously had 2 doses of MMR, you can still ask your GP for the vaccine.
the HPV vaccine – which helps protect against genital warts and cancers caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), such as cervical cancer.
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
Your GP surgery can book or rearrange an appointment.
It’s best to have vaccines on time, but you can still catch up on most vaccines if you miss them.