UK childhood vaccination schedule
Which vaccines your child is offered on the NHS, and when. From the first jabs at 8 weeks to the teenage boosters at 14, in one place.
The routine schedule at a glance
Baby vaccinations are counted in weeks from birth, not months. Your GP surgery or practice nurse gives them, and usually sends you an invitation. Vaccinations from age 12 are mostly given at school.
| Age | Vaccines |
|---|---|
| 8 weeks | 6-in-1 vaccine (1st dose) Rotavirus vaccine (1st dose) MenB vaccine (1st dose) |
| 12 weeks | 6-in-1 vaccine (2nd dose) Rotavirus vaccine (2nd dose) MenB vaccine (2nd dose) |
| 16 weeks | 6-in-1 vaccine (3rd dose) Pneumococcal vaccine (1st dose) |
| 1 year | MMRV vaccine (1st dose, for children born on or after 1 January 2025) Pneumococcal vaccine (2nd dose) MenB vaccine (3rd dose) |
| 18 months | 6-in-1 vaccine (4th dose, for children born on or after 1 July 2024) MMRV vaccine (1st or 2nd dose, for children born on or after 1 July 2024) |
| 3 years and 4 months | 4-in-1 pre-school booster MMRV vaccine (1st or 2nd dose, for children born between 1 September 2022 and 31 December 2024) |
| 12 to 13 years | HPV vaccine |
| 14 years (school year 9) | 3-in-1 teenage booster (tetanus, diphtheria and polio) MenACWY vaccine |
What the vaccines protect against
- 6-in-1: diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis), polio, Hib and hepatitis B.
- Rotavirus: a common cause of diarrhoea and vomiting in babies. It is given by mouth.
- MenB: meningococcal group B bacteria, a cause of meningitis and sepsis.
- Pneumococcal: pneumococcal bacteria, which can cause pneumonia and meningitis.
- MMRV: measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox.
- 4-in-1 pre-school booster: diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio.
- HPV: human papillomavirus, offered to all children aged 12 to 13.
- 3-in-1 teenage booster and MenACWY: tetanus, diphtheria and polio, plus meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y.
MMRV: which doses depend on the date of birth
The MMRV vaccine has replaced MMR in the routine schedule. Because the change came in for children of different ages at once, the timing depends on when your child was born:
| Born | MMRV doses |
|---|---|
| On or after 1 January 2025 | At 1 year and at 18 months |
| 1 July 2024 to 31 December 2024 | At 18 months and at 3 years and 4 months |
| 1 September 2022 to 30 June 2024 | At 3 years and 4 months |
| 1 January 2020 to 31 August 2022 | One catch-up dose between 1 November 2026 and 31 March 2028, if your child has not had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine. Your GP will contact you. |
If you are not sure which group your child is in, your GP surgery can tell you. Older children and adults born on or before 31 December 2019 who missed MMR can still have it.
Children's flu vaccine every autumn
The flu vaccine is offered every year in autumn or early winter. It is usually a quick nasal spray, one puff in each nostril. Children who cannot have the spray are offered an injection.
- Aged 2 or 3 on 31 August: at the GP surgery or a pharmacy.
- Aged 4 and not yet at school: a community clinic, GP or pharmacy, depending on their birthday.
- Reception to year 11: usually at school.
- Certain long-term health conditions: from 6 months.
Keep the red book handy
Every vaccination is noted in your child's personal child health record, the red book. Take it along to each appointment. Before your child starts school is a good moment to look through it and check nothing is missing.
Sources
- NHS: NHS vaccinations and when to have them
- NHS: MMRV vaccine
- NHS: Children's flu vaccine
- UKHSA: Complete routine immunisation schedule from 1 September 2026
Information as of November 2026. Recommendations can change; if in doubt, the current version from the source above applies. heyshary is an independent app and is not endorsed by the NHS. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Common questions
When does my baby have their first vaccinations?
At 8 weeks: the 6-in-1 vaccine, the rotavirus vaccine and the MenB vaccine. Your GP surgery usually invites you. If you have not heard anything by then, it is fine to ring and ask.
What is the MMRV vaccine?
MMRV protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox (varicella). It has replaced the MMR vaccine in the routine NHS schedule. When your child has it depends on their date of birth, see the table above.
Is there a vaccination appointment at 18 months?
Yes, for children born on or after 1 July 2024. They are offered a 4th dose of the 6-in-1 vaccine and a dose of MMRV. Children born on or before 30 June 2024 have no appointment at this age.
Which children get the flu vaccine?
Children aged 2 or 3 on 31 August, children aged 4 who have not yet started school, and school-aged children from reception to year 11. It is usually a nasal spray, given every autumn. Children with certain long-term health conditions can have it from 6 months.
What if my child missed a vaccination?
Most vaccinations can be caught up. Speak to your GP surgery, they can check your child's record and book what is missing. The red book is a good place to start.
You do not have to keep track of it
heyshary works out these dates from your child's date of birth and reminds both parents in good time, so it is not just one of you holding it all in your head. No account, free to try.
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