Vaccinations and immunisations

Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent infectious diseases.

Why vaccines are important

We can be affected by illness and diseases at different stages of life, from childhood to older age. This page explains to you how vaccinations work and aims to answer your questions about each type.

Things you need to know about vaccines

Vaccines:

Do:

help to protect you and your child from many serious and potentially deadly diseases
protect other people in your family and community – by helping to stop diseases spreading to people who cannot have vaccines, such as babies too young to be vaccinated and those who are too ill to be vaccinated
undergo rigorous safety testing before being introduced – they’re also constantly monitored for side effects after being introduced
sometimes cause mild side effects that will not last long – you may feel a bit unwell and have a sore arm for 2 or 3 days
reduce or even get rid of some diseases – if enough people are vaccinated

Don't:

do not overload or weaken the immune system – it's safe to give children and adults several vaccines at a time and this reduces the amount of injections needed
do not contain mercury (thiomersal)
do not all contain animal gelatine, and you can check first with your GP
do not contain any ingredients that cause harm – only ingredients essential to making them safer and more effective and only in very small amounts
do not cause autism – studies have found no evidence of a link between the MMR vaccine and autism

Vaccination is the most important thing we can do to protect ourselves and our children against ill health. They prevent millions of deaths worldwide every year.

Since vaccines were introduced in the UK, diseases like smallpox, polio and tetanus that used to kill or disable millions of people are either gone or are now very rarely seen.

Other diseases like measles and diphtheria have reduced to a very low number of cases each year since vaccines were introduced. These cases are often related to travel.

It's important that vaccines are given on time for the best protection, but if you or your child have missed a vaccine, contact your GP to catch up.

However, if people stop having vaccines, it's possible for infectious diseases to quickly spread again.

Vaccine FAQs

Visit the ‘Vaccinations and Immunisations’ homepage on this website here for information about a specific vaccination.

In the UK people are offered vaccinations against a number of different diseases throughout their lifetimes. In this section, you can see what vaccinations are offered for babies, children and adults, and when.

6-in-1 vaccine: first dose protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, Hib disease and Hepatitis B.

Rotavirus vaccine: first dose protects against rotavirus.

MenB vaccine: first dose protects against type B meningococcal disease.

6-in-1 vaccine: second dose protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, Hib disease and Hepatitis B.

Rotavirus vaccine: second dose protects against rotavirus.

Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccine (PCV): first dose protects against pneumococcal disease.

6-in-1 vaccine: third dose protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, Hib disease and Hepatitis B.

MenB vaccine: second dose protects against type B meningococcal disease.

Hib/MenC vaccine to protect against Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and meningitis C.

MMR vaccine: first dose protects against measles, mumps and rubella (german measles).

Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccine (PCV): booster protects against pneumococcal disease.

MenB vaccine: booster dose protects against type B meningococcal disease.

Childs nasal flu vaccine: an annual vaccine that protects against seasonal flu.

Note: This page is about the flu vaccine for children. There's separate information about the flu vaccine for adults.

MMR booster vaccine: protects against measles, mumps and rubella (german measles).

4-in-1 pre-school booster vaccine: protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) and polio.

Inactivated flu vaccine: protects against influenza (flu).

Shingles vaccine: protects against shingles.

Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV): helps protect against serious illnesses like pneumonia and meningitis. It's recommended for people at higher risk of these illnesses, such as babies and adults aged 65 and over.

Inactivated flu vaccine: protects against influenza (flu).

Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine: protects mother and baby against pertussis (whooping cough).

The NHS usually offers the Covid-19 vaccine in autumn, winter and spring annually. Vaccinations are offered to eligible people and these are announced in the media, on NHS and other health websites.

Look here for information about the COVID-19 vaccination, who can get it, and safety and side effects.

Most countries around the world tend to recommend the same kinds of vaccines for babies, children and adults. However, vaccination schedules are not exactly the same from country to country. There may be differences in vaccine types, recommended ages or doses.

All vaccines are thoroughly tested to make sure they will not harm you or your child.

It often takes many years for a vaccine to make it through the trials and tests it needs to pass for approval.

Once a vaccine is being used in the UK it's also monitored for any rare side effects by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). It is also carefully monitored to make sure it still works.

Anyone can report a suspected side effect of vaccination to the MHRA through the Yellow Card Scheme.

Is porcine (pork) gelatine used in vaccines?

The issue of pork ingredients in some vaccines has raised concerns among some groups, including Muslim, Jewish, vegetarian and vegan communities. You can read the guidance here to provide information about vaccines that contain this product and the alternatives that may be available.

Which vaccines contain porcine (pork) gelatine?

In the UK routine immunisation programme, there are 3 vaccines that contain porcine gelatine:

· Fluenz® Tetra®, the nasal spray vaccine that protects children against flu
· MMR VaxPro®, a vaccine that protects against measles, mumps and rubella
· Zostavax®, the vaccine that protects older adults against shingles.

Are there alternatives to these vaccines?

· MMR: in the UK we have 2 types of MMR vaccine – MMR VaxPro® and Priorix®.
· Priorix® does not contain gelatine and is as safe and effective as MMR VaxPro®
· Shingles: Zostavax® is the only shingles vaccine currently available in the UK
· Fluenz® Tetra: for healthy children, there is no equivalent vaccine. There are injectable flu vaccines that do not contain pork gelatine, but these are expected to be less effective than Fluenz® Tetra in children. They may also do less to reduce the spread of flu in the community. These vaccines are only recommended as part of the programme for children and adults who are at high risk of the complications of flu.

Vaccinations and immunisations

COVID-19

Flu

Vaccinations in pregnancy

Childhood immunisations

School age immunisations

Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Shingles

Why vaccines are important

Things you need to know about vaccines

Vaccines:

Do:

Don't:

Vaccine FAQs

Vaccinations and immunisations

Why vaccines are important

Things you need to know about vaccines

Vaccines:

Do:

Don't:

Vaccine FAQs

How do I find information about a specific vaccination?

When should I have a vaccination?

2 months (8 weeks)

3 months (12 weeks)

4 months (16 weeks)

12 to 13 months

2 years up to school Year 6

3 years and 4 months

Older adults and risk groups

Pregnant Women

Covid-19

Why are vaccinations in the UK given at different times from my home country?

Are vaccines safe?

Vaccines and porcine

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