Immunisations – Adult & Childhood

Adult Immunisations

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

Influenza (Flu)

You should have a flu vaccine every autumn if you:

are 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

Flu vaccines are usually offered from September, subject to demand and vaccine availability.

Shingles

You will be eligible for the shingles vaccine if you are:

Aged 65 (offered at your 65th birthday)
Aged 70 – 79 and have not yet been vaccinated
Aged 50 or over with a severely weakened immune system, including people who
- have certain blood cancers (such as leukaemia or lymphoma)
- have HIV or AIDS
- have had stem cell, organ transplant, radiotherapy or chemotherapy
- take certain medicines that severely weaken the immune system

You’ll receive 2 doses given 6-12 months apart (8 weeks apart if immunocompromised).

Pneumococcal (Pneumonia) vaccine

Protests again serious pneumococcal infections such as pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis.

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

Pertussis (whooping cough) in Pregnancy

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.

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

Flu vaccine for Children

The flu vaccine is offered free on the NHS for:

Children aged 2 or 3 years old (on 31 August before flu season) will be invited by the surgery SMS for vaccination.
School-aged children provided in schools by NHS school vaccination teams.
Children at higher risk due to medical conditions will be invited by the surgery for vaccination.

Childhood 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)

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
Annually (from 6 months for eligible groups)	Influenza (flu)	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
From 65 years (rolling programme)	Shingles (Shingrix – 2 doses 6–12 months apart)	Also for adults aged 50+ with severely weakened immune systems