Immunisations – Adult & Childhood

Most adult vaccinations are available free of charge if you meet NHS eligibility criteria.

Most vaccines are given as injections into the thigh (infants) or upper arm (older children and adults).

Selective / At Risk Immunisations

When to immunise	Diseases protected against	Who this applies to
At birth (selective)	Tuberculosis (BCG)	Babies at higher risk of TB (based on family background or travel risk)
At birth (selective)	Hepatitis B	Babies born to mothers who test positive for Hepatitis B; further doses at 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks
During pregnancy (16–32 weeks ideally)	Pertussis (whooping cough)	Protects baby in the first months of life Pregnant women should have the whooping cough vaccine ideally between 16 and 32 weeks of pregnancy to protect their baby until they can be vaccinated. If missed, it can still be given up until labour begins.
Annually (from 6 months for eligible groups)	Influenza (flu)	Eligibility Aged 65 or over have a certain long term condition (such as asthma, COPD, heart, liver or kidney disease, or have had your spleen removed) are pregnant are a carer or live with someone with a weakened immune system All children aged 2 and 3 years; school-age children; and adults or children in at-risk groups
From 65 years	Pneumococcal (one dose)	Protects against pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis Adults aged 65 and over: one single lifetime dose (no annual booster) Adults with certain long term conditions (eg. chronic heart, lung or kidney disease, or without a spleen) may need a booster every 5 years depending on risk
From 65 years (rolling programme)	Shingles (Shingrix – 2 doses 6–12 months apart)	Also for adults aged 50+ with severely weakened immune systems You’ll receive 2 doses given 6-12 months apart (8 weeks apart if immunocompromised).
At birth or when travelling	Tetanus and Polio	Most people are protected through the childhood vaccination programme. If you’ve never completed a full course, you’ll need 3 doses, followed by 2 boosters ten years apart Those at ongoing risk (eg. travel or occupational exposure) may need 10 yearly boosters

Children’s Immunisations

Routine childhood vaccines protect against serious diseases such as measles, rubella, polio, diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough.

There are very few reasons a child cannot be immunised. If you have any doubts or concerns, please speak to your GP, nurse or health visitor.

Routine Immunisation Programme (updated from July 2025)

When to immunise	Diseases protected against
8 weeks old	First routine vaccinations includes first rotavirus dose given orally. Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), Hepatitis B (6-in-1 vaccine) Pneumococcal disease (PCV) Meningococcal B (Men B) Rotavirus (oral)
12 weeks old	Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib, Hepatitis B (second 6-in-1 dose) Meningococcal B (second dose) Rotavirus (second oral dose)
16 weeks old	Final dose of the primary infant series. Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib, Hepatitis B (final 6-in-1 dose) Pneumococcal disease (first PCV dose – moved from 12 weeks)
12–13 months (within one month of 1st birthday)	Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR – first dose) Meningococcal B (booster) Pneumococcal (booster) Hib/MenC (for children born before 1 July 2024 only)
18 months old (for children born on/after 1 July 2024)	Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib, Hepatitis B (6-in-1 booster) MMR (second dose)
3 years 4 months (or soon after) (for children born before 1 July 2024)	Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio (booster) MMR (second dose)
12–13 years (school year 8)	HPV vaccine (Human Papillomavirus) Protects against cancer and genital warts caused by HPV
14 years (school year 9)	FTetanus, diphtheria, polio booster (Td/IPV) Meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY)