About childhood vaccines

Measles risk in north East London Cases of measles have been reported in Newham and Hackney. Measles spreads easily and can be fatal. Find out if your child is up to date with their MMR vaccinations.

Why vaccinations are important

Find out how vaccination helps you protect your child and to stop diseases spreading in your local community
What vaccinations does my child need and when?

Find out which vaccinations are available and when they should be taken
How to get your child vaccinated

Find out when, where and how you can get your child vaccinated.
What to consider when booking a vaccination

Advice on booking, preparing for and attending vaccinations
Common questions about vaccinations

Find answers to commonly asked questions about vaccines and vaccinations
Watch local parents discuss vaccines with local clinicians

Hear about the experiences of friends, neighbours and colleagues on vaccines and vaccinations

Why vaccines are important

Vaccines have been around for a long time and have been saving lives in the UK for decades. They undergo rigorous research, safety testing and monitoring to make sure they are safe for you and your family.

Vaccination helps:

protect your child from many serious and potentially deadly diseases
to stop dangerous diseases from spreading in local communities
to keep vulnerable people safe, including babies, people living with certain health conditions and older people.

What vaccinations does my child need?

NHS routine childhood vaccinations are free. Staying up to date with your child’s vaccinations throughout their childhood will provide them with the best protection against deadly diseases. Find out which vaccinations your child needs and when below.

8 weeks

Vaccine	Protects your child against
6-in-1 vaccine (1st dose)	Polio, hepatitis B, whooping cough (pertussis), diphtheria, Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b) and tetanus
Rotavirus vaccine (1st dose)	Rotavirus
MenB vaccine (1st dose)	Meningococcal group B bacteria which can cause meningitis and sepsis

In Newham all babies are offered the BCG vaccine against tuberculosis (TB) within the first 28 days of birth. Outside of Newham, the BCG vaccine is only offered to babies at higher risk of getting TB. If you live in Newham and your baby hasn’t been offered their BCG vaccine within 28 days of birth, call 0208 214 1395 or email newham.bcg@nhs.net

12 weeks

Vaccine	Protects your child against
Pneumococcal vaccine (1st dose)	Protects against types of bacterial infections that causes sepsis, meningitis, and pneumonia
6-in-1 vaccine (2nd dose)	Polio, hepatitis B, whooping cough (pertussis), diphtheria, Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b) and tetanus
Rotavirus vaccine (2nd vaccine)	Rotavirus

16 weeks

Vaccine	Protects your child against
6-in-1 vaccine (3rd dose)	Protects against types of bacterial infections that causes sepsis, meningitis, and pneumonia
MenB vaccine (2nd dose)	Meningococcal group B bacteria which can cause meningitis and sepsis

1 year

Vaccine	Protects your child against
Hib/MenC vaccine	Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and meningitis C
MMR vaccine (1st dose)	Measles, mumps and rubella
Pneumococcal vaccine (2nd dose)	Protects against types of bacterial infections that causes sepsis, meningitis, and pneumonia
MenB vaccine (3rd dose)	Meningococcal group B bacteria which can cause meningitis and sepsis

Between 2 and 15

Vaccine	Protects your child against
Children’s flu vaccine (every year)	Flu (influenza) which can cause pneumonia

3 years and 4 months

Vaccine	Protects your child against
MMR vaccine (2nd dose)	Measles, mumps and rubella
4-in-1 pre-school booster vaccine	Tetanus, whooping cough, diphtheria, and polio

12-13 years

Vaccine	Protects your child against
HPV vaccine	Human papillomavirus (HPV) which can cause certain types of cancer including cervical cancer

14 years

Vaccine	Protects your child against
3-in-1 teenage booster vaccine (Td/IPV vaccine)	Polio, diphtheria, and tetanus
MenACWY vaccine	4 different strains of the meningococcal bacteria – A, C, W and Y which can cause meningitis, septicaemia (blood poisoning) and sepsis

Where to go for trusted information

It’s okay to have questions about whether vaccination is the right decision for your child.

But it is important to be mindful about where you receive your information from. Anti-vaccine stories and false information can often be spread online through social media or through word of mouth.

Always get your vaccine and health information from trusted sources, such as the NHS or the World Health Organisation (WHO). You can also speak to your GP or health visitor for advice about what vaccines are right for you and your family.

Vaccination information you see on social media may not be based on scientific evidence. All the current evidence tells us that getting vaccinated is safer than not getting vaccinated.