Childhood Immunisations

Children receive a significant number of vaccines, in various combinations and at specific times in their first few years of life. Therefore it’s important to have a general understanding of what vaccines a child should have received by a particular age when taking a paediatric history. This article provides a summary of the vaccination schedule which is ideal for quick revision!

2-months-old

6-in-1 (1st dose): 

• Diphtheria
• Tetanus
• Whooping cough (Pertussis)
• Polio
• Haemophilus influenzae type B
• Hepatitis B

Rotavirus vaccine

Meningitis B vaccine

3-months-old

6-in-1 (2nd dose):

• Diphtheria
• Tetanus
• Whooping cough (Pertussis)
• Polio
• Haemophilus influenzae type B
• Hepatitis B

Pneumococcal (PCV) vaccine

Rotavirus vaccine (2nd dose)

4-months-old

6-in-1 (3rd dose): 

• Diphtheria
• Tetanus
• Whooping cough (Pertussis)
• Polio
• Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib)
• Hepatitis B

Meningitis B vaccine (2nd dose)

1-year-old

Hib/Meningitis C booster: single jab containing Hib (4th dose) and Meningitis C

MMR (1st dose):

• Measles
• Mumps
• Rubella

Pneumococcal PCV vaccine (2nd dose)

Meningitis B vaccine (3rd dose)

2-10 years

Flu vaccination (every year)

3 years and 4-months-old

DTaP/ IPV (4-in-1 pre-school booster):

• Diphtheria
• Tetanus
• Whooping cough (Pertussis)
• Polio 

MMR (2nd dose):

• Measles
• Mumps
• Rubella 

12/13-years-old

HPV vaccine (human papillomavirus): two jabs are given at 6-24 months apart

14-years-old

3-in-1 teenage booster:

• Tetanus
• Diphtheria
• Polio

Meningitis ACWY vaccine:

• Meningitis A, C, W and Y

References

1. NHS vaccination schedule. Available from: [LINK].