UK childhood vaccination schedule
The routine NHS vaccines for babies, children and teenagers in the UK, by age. Based on the UKHSA schedule in force from 1 September 2026.
Vaccines by age
This is the schedule for children born on or after 1 January 2025. If your child is older, see which schedule applies to your child.
| Age | Vaccine | Protects against |
|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | 6-in-1 vaccine (DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB) MenB Rotavirus (drops by mouth) | Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, Hib, hepatitis B Meningococcal group B Rotavirus |
| 12 weeks | 6-in-1 vaccine, 2nd dose MenB, 2nd dose Rotavirus, 2nd dose | As at 8 weeks |
| 16 weeks | 6-in-1 vaccine, 3rd dose Pneumococcal (PCV) | As at 8 weeks Pneumococcal infections |
| 1 year | PCV booster MenB booster MMRV | Pneumococcal infections Meningococcal group B Measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox |
| 18 months | 6-in-1 booster MMRV, 2nd dose | Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, Hib, hepatitis B Measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox |
| 2 years and up | Flu vaccine, every autumn (nasal spray) | Influenza |
| 3 years 4 months | 4-in-1 pre-school booster (dTaP/IPV) | Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio |
| 12 to 13 years (Year 8) | HPV, one dose | Cancers and genital warts caused by HPV |
| 14 years (Year 9) | 3-in-1 teenage booster (Td/IPV) MenACWY | Tetanus, diphtheria, polio Meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y |
Flu: children aged 2 and 3 get the nasal spray at their GP practice, school-age children usually at school. Some vaccines, such as BCG (tuberculosis) and extra hepatitis B doses, are only offered to children at higher risk. Pregnant women are also offered whooping cough and RSV vaccines.
Which schedule applies to your child
The UK changed the childhood schedule in July 2025 and January 2026. The vaccines your child gets depend on their date of birth.
Born on or after 1 January 2025
The schedule above: MMRV at 1 year and 18 months, the 6-in-1 booster at 18 months, and the 4-in-1 pre-school booster at 3 years 4 months.
Born between 1 July 2024 and 31 December 2024
MMR at 1 year (given before MMRV started in January 2026). The 6-in-1 booster and MMRV at 18 months. MMRV again with the 4-in-1 pre-school booster at 3 years 4 months.
Born on or before 30 June 2024
Hib/MenC and MMR at 1 year, and no 18-month appointment. At 3 years 4 months: the 4-in-1 pre-school booster and MMRV, which also starts chickenpox protection.
If you're not sure what your child has had, ask your GP practice. They can check the record and book any missing doses.
Moving to the UK with children
- Coming from the US? See moving from the US to the UK.
- Register your child with a GP practice as soon as you have an address. Invitations for vaccinations come from there.
- Bring your child's vaccination records from abroad, with a translation if they're not in English.
- The practice compares them with the UK schedule and offers missing doses, following the UKHSA guidance for uncertain or incomplete vaccination status.
- Common differences: many countries don't give MenB to babies, and chickenpox vaccination has only been routine in the UK since 2026. Your child may be offered doses they didn't get before.
Moving away from the UK
- Moving to Spain? See moving from the UK to Spain.
- Moving to Australia? See moving from the UK to Australia.
- Moving to Germany? See moving from the UK to Germany.
- Keep your child's red book (Personal Child Health Record).
- Ask your GP practice for a printout of your child's vaccination history before you leave.
- Your new country may schedule some vaccines at different ages, or offer vaccines the UK doesn't, such as hepatitis A or tick-borne encephalitis in some regions.
Questions
Are childhood vaccines compulsory in the UK?
No. Vaccination is not compulsory in the UK. The NHS offers the routine vaccines to every child and strongly recommends them, and you decide together with your GP or practice nurse.
Are childhood vaccines free in the UK?
Yes. The routine childhood vaccines are free through the NHS. Register your child with a GP practice to get invitations for each appointment.
What if my child had vaccines in another country?
Show your child's vaccination records from abroad to your GP practice. They compare them with the UK schedule and offer any missing doses, following the UKHSA guidance for children with uncertain or incomplete vaccination status.
When did the UK add the chickenpox vaccine?
From 1 January 2026, the UK replaced the MMR vaccine with MMRV, which also protects against chickenpox (varicella). Which doses your child gets depends on their date of birth.
Keep track with VaxFile
VaxFile shows your child's UK schedule based on their date of birth, reminds you of upcoming doses, and keeps records from every country you've lived in. Free on iOS and Android.
Sources: UKHSA, complete routine immunisation schedule · The Green Book, chapter 11 · NHS, vaccinations and when to have them
This page summarises the official UK schedule for information only. It isn't medical advice. Your GP or practice nurse decides which vaccines your child needs. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own programmes, and timings can differ slightly.
Last checked against the official sources: 6 October 2026.