Vaccines are the most effective way to protect your child from many infectious diseases that would otherwise be very dangerous or even fatal if contracted.
Pathologists – experts in diseases and how they are spread – highly recommend that all children are given a complete schedule of vaccinations starting when they are babies to protect them against deadly diseases such as polio, tetanus, and diphtheria.
Vaccinations are by far the best thing we can do to protect ourselves and our children against diseases and ill health. Vaccinations help prevent millions of diseases worldwide every year and were responsible for preventing the deaths of an estimated 36 million children under the age of five between 2000 and 2019.
Since vaccines were introduced to the UK, diseases that used to kill millions of people, such as smallpox, polio, and tetanus, have now disappeared or are very rarely seen.
However, if people stop getting vaccinated, infectious diseases can quickly start spreading again.
There are also people, including children, who are unable to get vaccinations due to conditions such as leukaemia. However, if enough people get vaccinated, diseases are considerably less likely to spread, helping to protect even those without vaccinations. By getting your child vaccinated, you are helping to protect the most vulnerable people in our society.
There is a lot of misinformation about vaccines spread online. Getting your information from medical professionals and trusted organisations such as the NHS and the World Health Organisation (WHO) is essential.
Age |
Vaccine |
|---|---|
| 8 weeks |
6-in-1 vaccine Rotavirus vaccine MenB vaccine |
| 12 weeks |
6-in-1 vaccine (2nd dose) Pneumococcal vaccine Rotavirus vaccine (2nd dose) |
| 16 weeks |
6-in-1 vaccine (3rd dose) MenB vaccine (2nd dose) |
| 1 year |
Hib/MenC vaccine MMR vaccine Pneumococcal vaccine (2nd dose) |
| 2 to 15 years | Children's flu vaccine (every year until children finish Year 11 of secondary school) |
| 3 years and 4 months |
MMR vaccine (2nd dose) 4-in-1 pre-school booster vaccine |
| 12 to 13 years | HPV vaccine |
| 14 years |
3-in-1 teenage booster vaccine MenACWY vaccine |
Vaccinations are vital to your child’s health. However, they aren’t the most fun to have. Still, there are some things you can try to help your child’s vaccination appointment go smoothly.
If you are worried about any aspect of the vaccination process, speak to a nurse or a doctor.
You will usually be informed by your GP surgery when your child is due to have their vaccinations. However, please don’t hesitate to contact your GP if you know that your child is due for their vaccination. If you aren’t yet registered with a GP, you can do so here.
Get advice about specific conditions like back pain, coughs, mental health conditions and more
Get advice about general symptoms like tiredness, bleeding, pain or weakness
Request sick notes and GP letters or ask about recent tests
Get help for common childhood problems like rash, ear-ache, cold, flu, vomiting and diarrhoea
