Childhood Immunisation

Routine NHS Childhood Immunisation Programme

Childhood infections like measles and whooping cough are rising, with outbreaks across the country.  Such infections can have a huge impact on your child’s life. They can miss out on school due to time spent unwell, be hospitalised, and even experience life-long complications and disability.

If your child isn’t vaccinated, they’re not protected.  It is important for parents to take up the offer of the NHS’ free childhood immunisation programme as soon as they are offered to ensure your child has the best protection.

However, if you or your child have missed a vaccine, it is never too late to check if you can catch up.

• The childhood vaccination programme prevents around 5,000 deaths, and more than 100,000 hospital admissions, each year in England.
• NHS England data shows if 95% of children receive the MMR vaccine, this would stop measles spreading completely. Measles, mumps and rubella can quickly spread again if fewer than 90% of people are vaccinated.
• NHS England also notes that, since vaccines were introduced in the UK, diseases like smallpox, polio and tetanus that used to kill or disable millions of people are either now gone or very rarely seen.
• Data shows that, while measles can be mild for some children, one in five will require a hospital visit. Infection can lead to complications, such as meningitis and sepsis, in one in fifteen children.
• Maternal vaccine effectiveness against infant death from whooping cough is very high, at around 92%. This is despite uptake falling from 74.7% in December 2017 to 59.5% in December 2023.
• While most young children recover from Meningitis B, around 1 in 20 die from the infection. Many of those who survive have a permanent disability, such as brain damage, epilepsy, hearing loss, or the loss of limbs (amputation).
• The World Health Organisation (WHO) states 1 in 200 polio infections leads to irreversible paralysis. Among those paralysed, 5–10% die when their breathing muscles become immobilized.

Routine childhood immunisation schedule

Adolescent vaccination programme (delivered in schools)

Extra vaccines for at-risk people

Key messages from NHS England

• Childhood infections like measles and whooping cough are rising.
• If your child isn’t vaccinated, they’re not protected.
• Childhood infections can cause serious illness, hospitalisation and life-long disabilities.
• Childhood vaccinations give your children the best protection and prevent over 5,000 deaths and over 100,000 hospital admissions each year in England.
• It’s important that vaccines are given on time for the best protection, but if your child missed a vaccine, contact your GP surgery to catch up.
• To have full protection, children sometimes need to have booster vaccines. Check their red book or speak to your GP surgery to see if they are missing any.
• You can also visit nhs.uk/childhoodvaccinations to find out more and see if you should book an appointment for your child.
• All the childhood vaccinations are free. For the full timetable visit the NHS website and to see how to get them.
• All childhood vaccinations offered by the NHS have been used in millions of children worldwide and have an excellent safety record.
• All medicines can cause side effects, but all health authorities around the world agree that immunisation is the safest way to protect our children’s health.

Various research and data from previous NHS Childhood Immunisation campaigns and focus groups suggests:

• Most parents (88%) were happy with the safety of vaccines for babies and young children.
• Parents in the three lower social and economic groups in a society and ethnic minorities were more likely to report feeling less happy with the safety of vaccines for babies and young children.
• Parents agreed that vaccines work (89%), that they are safe (84%) and trusted (82%).
• Lower vaccine uptake within communities is directly linked to wider health inequalities.
• Uptake varies significantly by region and is a highly localised issue.
• Strong social norms are instrumental in driving uptake, however in recent years the social norms focus on the COVID-19 vaccine and to a lesser extent flu.
• Parents want to protect their children and see routine vaccines as a part of growing up, those that have been around for a long time they view as safe. However, safety concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine have caused some parents to re-appraise their views of vaccinations in general.
• Parents do not generally know what vaccines their children get and when. They normally go with what is offered by the school or GP.

How to book your child’s vaccination appointment

You will be contacted by your GP practice when your child is due a routine immunisation – this could be by phone, text or email.

If your child has missed any vaccinations, then it is best to speak to your GP practice. While it is best for your children to have their vaccinations according to the NHS vaccination schedule, it is never too late to check if they can still have them.