NHS Vaccination Schedule
Vaccines for babies under 1 year
8 weeks
- First 6-in-1 vaccine
- First rotavirus vaccine
- First MenB vaccine
12 weeks
- Second 6-in-1 vaccine
- Second rotavirus vaccine
- Second MenB vaccine
16 weeks
- Third 6-in-1 vaccine
- First pneumococcal vaccine
Vaccines for children aged 1 to 15 years
1 year
- MMRV vaccine (from January 2025)
- Second pneumococcal vaccine
- Third MenB vaccine
18 months
- Fourth 6-in-1 vaccine (from July 2024)
- MMRV vaccine (depending on previous doses)
2 to 15 years
- Flu vaccine every year (until the end of secondary school)
3 years and 4 months
- 4-in-1 pre-school booster
- MMRV vaccine (if not already completed)
12 to 13 years
- HPV vaccine
14 years
- Teenage booster (Td/IPV)
- MenACWY vaccine
Vaccines for adults
From 65 years
- Annual flu vaccine
- Pneumococcal vaccine
- Shingles vaccine (if eligible)
70 to 79 years
- Shingles vaccine
75 to 79 years
- RSV vaccine
75 years and over
- COVID-19 vaccine (seasonal boosters)
Vaccines during pregnancy
During flu season
- Flu vaccine
Around 20 weeks
- Whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine
From 28 weeks
- RSV vaccine
Additional vaccines
Some vaccines are offered on the NHS to people who are at higher risk. Please speak to your GP or nurse for more information.
Chickenpox (Varicella) Catch-up Vaccination Programme
From November 2026, the NHS is introducing a catch-up vaccination programme to protect children against chickenpox.
Who is eligible?
Children will be offered a catch-up dose of the MMRV vaccine if they:
- Were born between 1 January 2020 and 31 August 2022
- Are aged approximately 3 years 4 months to under 6 years
- Have not had chickenpox infection or
- Have not already received 2 doses of a chickenpox-containing vaccine
When will it be offered?
- The programme will run from:
1 November 2026 to 31 March 2028 - Parents/carers will usually be contacted by us when their child is eligible
What vaccine is given?
- A single dose of the MMRV vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox)
- This replaces the older MMR vaccine in the routine schedule
Important information
- Children do not need testing to confirm past chickenpox before vaccination
- It is safe to have the vaccine even if your child has already had chickenpox
- A separate chickenpox-only vaccine is not used in the NHS programme
Why this programme is being introduced?
Chickenpox is very common but can sometimes lead to serious complications.
The catch-up programme aims to:
- Protect children who missed earlier vaccination
- Reduce spread in nurseries and schools
- Prevent complications such as infections and hospitalisation
What should parents do?
- Wait to be contacted by us
- Or contact the practice if you think your child is eligible and hasn’t been invited