Child immunisation
Why get vaccinated?
Vaccines play a crucial role in safeguarding children against a range of preventable diseases such as measles, polio, and diphtheria. By immunising your child, you not only protect them but also contribute to the broader community's immunity, reducing the spread of infectious diseases.
It’s never too late to catch up on missed vaccines. Find out more on our adult immunisation page.
How to book a vaccination
To book a vaccination appointment for yourself or your child, please speak to your GP.
Before your child's appointment, please ensure you have their red book (personal child health record) and any relevant medical information.
If you have any concerns or questions about vaccinations, a healthcare professional will be happy to address them during your appointment.
Key vaccinations offered
Mumps, measles and rubella
Measles, mumps and rubella are highly infectious conditions can easily spread between unvaccinated people.
Getting vaccinated is important, as these conditions can also lead to serious problems including meningitis, hearing loss and problems during pregnancy. Two doses of the MMR vaccine provide the best protection against measles, mumps and rubella.
In most London Boroughs the first dose of MMR vaccine is given when your child is 12 months old, and the second when children are aged 18 months.
6-in-1 vaccine
The ‘6-in-1’ vaccine is one of the first vaccines your baby will have. It’s given as one single injection to protect your baby against six serious childhood conditions:
The 6-in-1 vaccine is given to babies when they’re 8, 12 and 16 weeks old. They need 3 doses to make sure they develop strong immunity to the conditions the vaccine protects against. Every time another dose of the vaccine is given, your baby’s immune response increases.
It’s best if your baby has the 6-in-1 vaccine at the recommended age so that they’re protected from serious conditions as early in life as possible. But if your baby has missed an appointment for the 6-in-1 vaccine, it’s never too late to have it. Make an appointment at your GP surgery or local child health clinic.
Polio
Polio is a serious infection that’s now very rare because of the vaccination programme. It’s only found in a few countries and the chance of getting it in the UK is extremely low.
Traces of the polio virus were recently found in London sewage, so it is important to make sure you are protected against it. The NHS vaccinates against polio as part of the 6-in-1 vaccine.
Meningitis
Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord (meninges).
It can affect anyone, but is most common in babies, young children, teenagers and young adults. Meningitis can be very serious if not treated quickly.
It can cause life-threatening sepsis and result in permanent damage to the brain or nerves.
Your lifelong vaccination schedule
This schedule outlines all the vaccines you are entitled to for free on the NHS from birth to old age.
Pregnant women, at-risk groups and people with underlying medical conditions may be offered additional vaccines or a different schedule. Visit the NHS’s vaccination page for more information.
| Age for vaccination | Protects against |
| 2 months | 6-in-1 (dose 1) Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, haemophilus influenzae b, hepatitis B Rotavirus (dose 1) Meningitis B |
| 3 months | 6-in-1 (dose 2) Pneumococcal Rotavirus (dose 2) |
| 4 months | 6-in-1 (dose 3) Meningitis B (dose 2) |
| 1 year | Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) (dose 1) Hib/meningitis C Pneumococcal (dose 2) Meningitis B (dose 3) |
| 18 months | MMR (dose 2) |
| 2 to 10 years | Seasonal flu |
| 3 years and 4 months | 4-in-1 Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio Pre-school booster |
| 12 years to 13 years | Human papilloma virus (HPV) by school nurses |
| 13 years to 18 years | 3-in-1 teenage booster |
| 65 years | Pneumococcal (23 serotypes) |
| 65 years and over | Shingles and seasonal flu |
| 70 to 79 years | Shingles |
| Pregnant women | Parental pertussis (whooping cough) and seasonal flu |