Childhood vaccinations
Immunisation is the safest and most effective way of protecting against serious diseases.
The NHS strongly recommends that babies and children are vaccinated according to the Routine Childhood Immunisations Schedule (external link)
This will provide protection against diseases including Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Whooping Cough, Diptheria, Polio, Pneumococcal, Meningitis B and C, Hib, Hepatitis B and Rotavirus.
Childhood vaccination schedule
| Age | Diseases protected against | Vaccines |
|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) and hepatitis B | |
| 8 weeks | Rotavirus gastroenteritis | Rotavirus (external link) |
| 8 weeks | Meningococcal group B (MenB) | MenB (external link) |
| 12 weeks | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, haemophilus influenza (Hib) and hepatitis B | |
| 12 weeks | Pneumococcal | Pneumococcal (PCV) vaccine (external link) |
| 12 weeks | Rotavirus | Rotavirus vaccine (2nd dose) (external link) |
| 16 weeks | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib and hepatitis B | |
| 16 weeks | Meningococcal group B (MenB) | MenB (2nd dose) (external link) |
| Age | Diseases protected against | Vaccines |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) and Meningococcal group C (MenC) | |
| 1 year | Measles, Mumps and Rubella | MMR (external link) |
| 1 year | Pneumococcal | Pneumococcal (PCV) vaccine (2nd dose) (external link) |
| 1 year | Meningococcal group B (MenB) | MenB (3rd dose) (external link) |
| 2 to 10 years | Influenza | |
| 3 years and 4 months | Measles, Mumps and Rubella | |
| 3 years and 4 months | Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio | 4-in-1 preschool booster (external link) |
Polio booster (1-9 years old)
School age children (12-14 years old)
| At-risk-group | Vaccines |
|---|---|
| Babies born to mothers who have hepatitis B | Hepatitis B vaccine birth, 4 weeks and 12 months (external link) |
| Children born in areas of the country where there are high numbers of TB cases | BCG tuberculosis (TB) vaccine at birth (external link) |
| Children whose parents or grandparents were born in a country with many cases of TB | BCG tuberculosis (TB) vaccine at birth (external link) |
| Children 6 months to 17 years old with long-term health conditions | Children's flu vaccine every year (external link) |
Source: NHS Vaccination Schedule taken from the NHS Website (external link)
For the best protection, it is important that vaccines are given on time, but it is never too late to have your child immunised.
Talk to your doctor, practice nurse or health visitor for more information and to arrange for your child to be immunised - even if your child has missed an immunisation and is older than the recommended ages.
Vaccination videos
Watch the videos below created by Federated4Health Haringey and Haringey's Public Health team to find out more about childhood vaccinations and why they are safe and effective.
English
Note for iPhone users and Youtube. There is a known bug with iOS and Youtube, Two buttons are read before the player but provide no functionality. We advise that you skip these to access the content.
Bulgarian
Note for iPhone users and Youtube. There is a known bug with iOS and Youtube, Two buttons are read before the player but provide no functionality. We advise that you skip these to access the content.
Polish
Note for iPhone users and Youtube. There is a known bug with iOS and Youtube, Two buttons are read before the player but provide no functionality. We advise that you skip these to access the content.
Romanian
Note for iPhone users and Youtube. There is a known bug with iOS and Youtube, Two buttons are read before the player but provide no functionality. We advise that you skip these to access the content.
Somali
Note for iPhone users and Youtube. There is a known bug with iOS and Youtube, Two buttons are read before the player but provide no functionality. We advise that you skip these to access the content.
Spanish
Note for iPhone users and Youtube. There is a known bug with iOS and Youtube, Two buttons are read before the player but provide no functionality. We advise that you skip these to access the content.
Turkish
Note for iPhone users and Youtube. There is a known bug with iOS and Youtube, Two buttons are read before the player but provide no functionality. We advise that you skip these to access the content.
Read our Childhood Vaccination Information Leaflet - English (PDF, 266KB) for more information about the safety of routine vaccinations for children. This is also available in Bulgarian, Polish, Romanian and Turkish:
- Childhood Vaccination Leaflet - Bulgarian (PDF, 295KB)
- Childhood Vaccination Leaflet - Polish (PDF, 330KB)
- Childhood Vaccination Leaflet - Romanian (PDF, 340KB)
- Childhood Vaccination Leaflet - Turkish (PDF, 300KB)
Useful links
See the childhood immunisation schedule - GOV.UK (external link)
See a guide to vaccinations from 2 to 5 years old - GOV.UK (external link)
See the NHS HPV vaccine programme page (external link) for information about the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) offer for girls and boys aged 12-13 years.
If you or your child are not registered with a GP, find a local practice near you through the NHS Find A GP website (external link)
See information and advice on Vaccinations during pregnancy - NHS (external link).