Immunisation

Full routine childhood immunisation schedule

The Department of Health website www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publichealth/Information/index.htm, provides up-to-date and comprehensive information on immunisation. The full immunisation schedule from the website, which lists the vaccines required by patients from birth up to 18 years of age, is reproduced below. The website is contains a link to NHS Choices, which covers information for the public—it includes a vaccination planner and information on: the benefits of vaccination, how vaccines are developed and tested, why the health advantages of vaccination far outweigh any risks, and available travel vaccinations.

The Department of Health also produces a monthly electronic newsletter, Vaccine Update, which all general practices should be receiving. It includes information on vaccine supply, immunisation policy, information resources, and vaccine ordering. To subscribe, email: vaccine.supply@dh.gsi.gov.uk. Previous copies are also available on the NHS immunisation website at: www.immunisation.nhs.uk/Professional_Information/Vaccine_Update.

2 months old
	Vaccine	How it is given
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, and Haemophilus influenzae type b	DTaP/IPV/Hib	One injection
Pneumococcal infection (pneumococcal conjugate vaccine)	PCV	One injection

3 months old
	Vaccine	How it is given
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, and Haemophilus influenzae type b	DTaP/IPV/Hib	One injection
Meningitis C (meningococcal group C)	MenC	One injection

4 months old
	Vaccine	How it is given
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, and Haemophilus influenzae type b	DTaP/IPV/Hib	One injection
Meningitis C (meningococcal group C)	MenC	One injection
Pneumococcal disease (pneumococcal conjugate vaccine)	PCV	One injection

Between 12 and 13 months old—within a month of first birthday
	Vaccine	How it is given
Haemophilus influenzae type b and meningitis C	Hib/MenC	One injection
Measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles)	MMR	One injection
Pneumococcal disease (pneumococcal conjugate vaccine)	PCV	One injection

3 years and 4 months or soon after
	Vaccine	How it is given
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and polio	dTaP/IPV or DTaP/IPV	One injection
Measles, mumps, and rubella	MMR	One injection

Girls aged 12 to 13 years
	Vaccine	How it is given
Human papillomavirus type 16 to 18	HPV	Three injections over 6 months

13 to 18 years old
	Vaccine	How it is given
Diphtheria, tetanus, and polio	Td/IPV	One injection

Reproduced with kind permission from the Department of Health