Children’s Health Recommended Vaccination Schedule

Most vaccinations are given during childhood. Some are given more than once to make sure the protection continues. This 'top-up' is called a booster.

The recommended timetable for childhood vaccinations is:

At two months old:
• Diptheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) (DTaP/IPV/Hib) – one injection
• Pneumococcal infection - pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) - one injection

At three months old:
• Diptheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) (DTaP/IPV/Hib) - one injection
• Meningitis C (meningococcal group C) (MenC) - one injection

At four months old:
• Diptheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) (DTaP/IPV/Hib) - one injection
• Meningitis C (meningococcal group C) (MenC) - one injection
• Pneumococcal infection - pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) - one injection

At around 12 months old:
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and meningitis C (Hib/MenC) - booster dose in one injection

At around 13 months old:
• Measles, mumps and rubella (German measles) (MMR) - one injection
• Pneumococcal infection - pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) - one injection

Three years four months to five years old (pre-school):
• Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) and polio (dTaP/IPV or DTaP/IPV) - one injection
• Measles, mumps and rubella (German measles) (MMR) - one injection

13 to 18 years old:
• Diphtheria, tetanus and polio (Td/IPV) - one injection

Vaccination appointment

It is important that your baby has their vaccinations as near to two, three and four months of age as possible, to keep the risk of them catching these diseases as low as possible. Premature babies should also be vaccinated from two months after birth, regardless of how premature they were.

Gap between vaccinations

It is recommended that there is at least a month's gap between each vaccination to allow their body to build up an adequate immune response. If the gap between vaccinations is less than a month, then an adequate immune response cannot be guaranteed and the vaccination may have to be redone.

If the gap between vaccinations is longer than a month, you should just continue the course where you left off, although it is advised that your baby has vaccinations at regular monthly intervals if possible. If you miss an appointment, make sure you contact your doctor's surgery as soon as possible to rearrange vaccinations.

Changes to the vaccination schedule

The child vaccination schedule was changed in September 2006 to include a vaccine to protect against pneumococcal infection - the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV).

As part of the changes, children under two who have missed the new scheduled vaccinations will be offered a single dose of PCV as part of a catch-up programme. Children over two years of age will not be part of the catch-up programme because the risk for children who are over two becoming ill with pneumococcal infection is considerably less than for those under two years of age.

Parents should contact their GP's surgery, or NHS Direct, on 0845 4647, if they have any questions, or concerns, regarding the child vaccination schedule.