Childhood vaccinations

Last Updated on Thursday, 19 May 2011 10:04

Routine vaccinations:

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

Non-routine vaccinations:

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

Chickenpox vaccination is generally only offered to 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.

BCG vaccination is offered to babies and children who have a high chance of coming into contact with tuberculosis.

Vaccination against seasonal flu (and swine flu) is recommended for children with certain medical conditions or a weakened immune system, which may put them at risk of complications from the infections.

Varicella
Protects against: chickenpox.
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 (Bacillus Calmette-Guerrin)
Protects against: tuberculosis (TB).
Given: from birth to 12 months of age.
More about the BCG vaccine

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

Swine flu
Protects against: swine flu.
Who needs it: children with long-term health conditions or weakened immune system.
Given: as part of the swine flu programme in 2009/10.
More on the swine flu vaccine

Hepatitis B
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

Information provided from NHS Choices - http://www.nhs.uk/Planners/vaccinations/Pages/childvaccines.aspx