Immunisations

NHS vaccinations and when to have them

Update: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has reported recent increases in the numbers of measles cases in parts of London. To protect your child, please make sure they have had their MMRV vaccine

The MMRV vaccine helps protect against:

These infections spread very easily between people and can lead to serious problems including meningitis, inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), pneumonia, and hearing loss.

It is important that vaccines are given on time for the best protection, but if you or your child missed a vaccine, you can contact your GP to catch up. 

For the most up to date vaccination schedule, including information on COVID-19 vaccinations, visit the NHS website

Eligibility 

Immunisation

People who had a severely weakened immune system when they had their first 2 doses

COVID-19 vaccine (additional primary dose)

Pregnant women

Flu vaccine (during flu season)

Whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine (from 16 weeks onwards)

8 weeks old

6-in-1 vaccine

Rotavirus vaccine

MenB

12 weeks old

6-in-1 vaccine (2nd dose)

MenB Vaccine (2nd dose)

Rotavirus vaccine (2nd dose)

16 weeks old

 

6-in-1 vaccine (3rd dose)

Pneumococcal (PCV) vaccine

 

1 year old

MMRV (1st dose for children born on or after 1 January 2025)
Pneumococcal (PCV) vaccine (2nd dose)
MenB (3rd dose)

Eighteen months old

Born before 1 July 2024
No appointment
Born on or after 1 July 2024
6-in-1 vaccine (4th dose for children born on or after 1 July 2024)
MMRV (1st or 2nd dose for children born on or after 1 July 2024)

2-15 years old (every year)

Children's Flu vaccine (every year until children finish Year 11 of secondary school)

3 years and 4 months

Born before 1 July 2024

MMRV (2nd dose)

4-in-1 pre-school booster

Born on or after 1 July 2024
4-in-1 pre-school booster

5 years old and over (who turned 5 on or before 31st August 2022)

COVID-19 vaccine (1st and 2nd dose)

Everyone aged 5 and over who is at high risk from COVID-19 due to a health condition, or because they have (or live with someone who has) a weakened immune system

COVID-19 vaccine (1st and 2nd dose)

12-13 years old

HPV vaccine

14 years old

3-in-1 teenage booster

MenACWY

65 years old

Pneumococcal (PCV) vaccine

Flu vaccine (given every year after turning 65)

Shingles vaccine (if you turned 65 on or after 1 September 2023)

70 to 79 years old

Shingles vaccine

75 to 79 years old

RSV vaccine

75 years and over

COVID-19 vaccine (usually given in spring and winter)

 

For the most up to date guidance on the COVID-19 vaccination, including who can get it, safety, and side effects, visit the NHS website.

How to get the COVID-19 vaccine

You can get a COVID-19 vaccine if you:

  • are an adult aged 75 years and over
  • a resident living in a care home for older adults
  • or if you are an individual who is immunosuppressed and aged 6 months and over

Health conditions and treatments that mean you're eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine

This represents a change from the autumn 2024 programme, which also included adults aged 65 to 74 and all those aged 6 months and over in a clinical risk group.

If you're eligible for the  COVID-19 vaccine, you can:

Some people may be able to get vaccinated at a local service, such as a community pharmacy or GP surgery, or at a care home if they live in a care home.

You do not need to wait for an invitation before booking an appointment.

  • If you get flu and COVID-19 at the same time, research shows you're more likely to be seriously ill. Getting vaccinated against flu and COVID-19 will provide protection for you and those around you
  • Some people may be eligible for both the flu and the COVID-19 booster vaccines. If you are offered both vaccines, it's safe to have them at the same time
  • If you are not able to have both vaccines at the same time, please go ahead with the vaccine you can have; you can catch up with the other vaccine later

For the most up to date guidance on the Flu vaccine, visit the NHS website.

  • Influenza (flu) is a very common and highly infectious disease caused by a virus. It can be more severe than the common cold and often results in at least 2-3 days in bed, leading to missed work and school days
  • While flu is unpleasant for most people it can be very dangerous and even life threatening for some, particularly people with certain health conditions
  • The flu vaccine is a safe and effective vaccine. Like all vaccines used in the UK, it’s been approved by the UK’s independent regulatory body for medicines and vaccines. It's offered every year on the NHS to help protect people at risk of getting seriously ill from flu  
  • If you are eligible for the flu vaccine, it is important to get it every year because the viruses that cause flu change every year. This means the flu (and the vaccine) this year may be different from last year 
  • The best time to have the flu vaccine is in the autumn or early winter before flu starts spreading.  Please come forward for vaccination as soon as you are invited  
  • The flu vaccine is offered to people most at risk of getting seriously ill from flu or who are most likely to pass flu to other people at risk
  • This year, the free vaccine will be offered to those most at risk from flu first. This includes younger children, older people (65 years and over), those in clinical risk groups and pregnant women 
  • From mid-October 2022, people aged 50 to 64 years old that aren’t in a clinical risk group, will also be able to get a free flu vaccine. Please wait until mid-October before booking an appointment with your GP practice or a local community pharmacy so those most at risk can get their vaccine first 
  • Some secondary school aged children will be offered a flu vaccine by the local school-aged immunisation provider service, most likely later in the season
  • If your child is in a clinical risk group, please contact your GP if you would like your child to receive the vaccine earlier in the season
  • You can have the NHS flu vaccine at your GP surgery, a pharmacy offering the service, your midwifery service if you're pregnant, or at a hospital appointment 
  • You do not need to be registered with a GP or have an NHS number to get a flu vaccine. Registering with a GP is an important thing to do as it allows you to access healthcare services, but you should not be turned away from a walk-in pharmacy site if you’re unregistered
  • You may be asked to declare your health condition that makes you eligible for the free flu vaccine. No immigration checks will be carried out when you receive the vaccine

The nasal spray flu vaccine is free on the NHS for: 

  • children aged two or three years on 31 August 2022 (born between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020)
  • all primary school children (Reception to Year 6)
  • some secondary school aged children
  • children aged two to 17 years with long-term health conditions

If your child is aged between six months and two years and has a long-term health condition that makes them at higher risk from flu, they'll be offered a flu vaccine injection instead of the nasal spray.  This is because the nasal spray is not licensed for children under two years old. 

The nasal spray vaccine offers the best protection for children aged two to 17 years. They'll be offered a flu vaccine injection if the nasal spray vaccine is not suitable for them. Injected flu vaccines are also safe and effective.

The nasal spray does contain traces of porcine gelatine.

If you wish to have an alternative, you can request the injectable vaccine which does not contain any porcine derivatives.