In the UK, babies are offered their first routine vaccines at 8 weeks, with further appointments at 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 1 year and 18 months, a pre-school booster at 3 years 4 months, and teenage vaccines at 12 to 13 and 14 years. Children are also offered a flu vaccine every year from age 2. The NHS and UKHSA updated the schedule in 2025 and 2026, so the exact vaccines your child is offered can depend on their date of birth.
If you are a new parent, the list of vaccines and appointments can feel like a lot to keep track of. This guide sets out the current routine schedule published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the NHS, explains what each vaccine protects against, and covers what to do if your child misses one.
What vaccines will my baby be offered in the first year?
Your GP surgery should contact you when your baby's vaccinations are due. The first three appointments take place at 8, 12 and 16 weeks.
- The 6-in-1 vaccine protects against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis), polio, Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b) and hepatitis B. It is given at 8, 12 and 16 weeks.
- The MenB vaccine protects against meningococcal group B bacteria, a cause of meningitis and sepsis.
- The rotavirus vaccine protects against rotavirus, a common cause of diarrhoea and vomiting in babies. It is given by mouth as drops, not as an injection.
- The pneumococcal vaccine (PCV) protects against pneumococcal infections, which can cause pneumonia, meningitis and other serious illness.
What is the full routine schedule?
The table below follows the UKHSA complete routine immunisation schedule and the NHS vaccination list for children.
| Age | Vaccines offered | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | 6-in-1 (1st dose), MenB (1st dose), rotavirus (1st dose) | Rotavirus is given by mouth |
| 12 weeks | 6-in-1 (2nd dose), MenB (2nd dose), rotavirus (2nd dose) | |
| 16 weeks | 6-in-1 (3rd dose), pneumococcal (1st dose) | |
| 1 year | MMRV, pneumococcal (2nd dose), MenB (3rd dose) | Given on or after the first birthday |
| 18 months | 6-in-1 (4th dose), MMRV | For children born on or after 1 July 2024 |
| 2 to 15 years | Children's flu vaccine, every year | Usually a nasal spray |
| 3 years 4 months | 4-in-1 pre-school booster (plus MMRV for some children) | MMRV here depends on date of birth |
| 12 to 13 years | HPV | Offered in school Year 8 |
| 14 years | 3-in-1 teenage booster (Td/IPV), MenACWY | Offered in school Year 9 |
What is MMRV, and what changed?
MMRV is a combined vaccine that protects against measles, mumps, rubella and varicella. Varicella is the virus that causes chickenpox. UKHSA added MMRV to the routine schedule from 1 January 2026, in place of the previous MMR vaccine, which means chickenpox protection is now part of the routine childhood programme.
A new routine appointment at 18 months was also introduced. For children born on or after 1 July 2024, this appointment includes the fourth dose of the 6-in-1 vaccine and a dose of MMRV.
Because these changes were phased in, older children may follow a slightly different pattern:
- Children born on or before 30 June 2024 do not have an 18-month appointment.
- At the pre-school booster (3 years 4 months), children born on or after 1 January 2025 are offered the 4-in-1 booster only, because they will already have had two doses of MMRV.
- Children born on or before 31 December 2024 are offered the 4-in-1 booster together with MMRV at their pre-school appointment.
If you are not sure which vaccines your child has had or is due, check their red book (personal child health record) or ask your GP surgery.
What does the pre-school booster protect against?
The 4-in-1 pre-school booster tops up protection against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio. It is given at 3 years 4 months, or soon after, before your child starts school.
Who can get the children's flu vaccine?
The NHS offers a free flu vaccine every year to:
- children aged 2 or 3 on 31 August 2026 (born between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2024)
- children aged 4 who have not yet started school
- all school-aged children from Reception to Year 11
- children aged 6 months to 17 years with certain long-term health conditions
It is offered every year in autumn or early winter and is usually given as a spray up each nostril. School-aged children usually have it at school during the autumn term. The nasal spray contains a small amount of pork gelatine. The NHS says an injected flu vaccine, which does not contain gelatine, can be requested instead, and is also offered to some children for medical reasons.
Which vaccines are given at secondary school?
HPV vaccine (Year 8): offered to all children aged 12 to 13, boys and girls. It helps protect against cancers and genital warts caused by certain types of human papillomavirus. The NHS says most people under 25 need one dose. Those who miss it at school can usually still get it free from the NHS until their 25th birthday, depending on eligibility.
Teenage booster and MenACWY (Year 9): at around 14, young people are offered the 3-in-1 teenage booster, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria and polio, and the MenACWY vaccine, which protects against four types of meningococcal bacteria (groups A, C, W and Y).
What if my child misses a vaccine?
Contact your GP surgery. The NHS says most vaccines can still be given late, so it is worth catching up even if your child is past the usual age. Your surgery can check your child's record and arrange any doses they need.
A simple checklist for parents
- Register your baby with a GP surgery so you receive vaccination invitations.
- Bring your child's red book to every vaccination appointment.
- Note the key ages: 8, 12 and 16 weeks, 1 year, 18 months and 3 years 4 months.
- Look out for school consent forms for flu, HPV and teenage vaccines.
- If a dose is missed, contact your GP surgery to catch up.
Frequently asked questions
Is the schedule the same across the UK?
The routine schedule is published by UKHSA for the UK, and the NHS sets out the same appointments. How invitations are sent and where vaccines are given can vary locally, so your GP surgery or school health team is the best place to check details.
Does my child need the chickenpox vaccine separately?
For children on the current schedule, no. The MMRV vaccine includes protection against varicella, the virus that causes chickenpox, so it is given as part of the combined vaccine.
Why is the rotavirus vaccine given by mouth?
The rotavirus vaccine is designed to be swallowed as drops, which is how it is given in the UK schedule. Before giving it, health professionals check your baby's newborn screening result for a rare immune condition called SCID, as set out in the UKHSA schedule.
My child is older and had MMR rather than MMRV. Do they need anything else?
It depends on their date of birth and which doses they have already had. Ask your GP surgery, who can check their record against the current schedule.
Sources
- NHS: NHS vaccinations and when to have them
- UKHSA: Complete routine immunisation schedule
- NHS: Children's flu vaccine
- NHS: HPV vaccine
General information only, not medical advice. Vaccination schedules can change, so always check with your GP surgery, practice nurse or health visitor about your own child's vaccinations.