What are the current recommended immunisation schedules for children in the UK?

UK Childhood Immunisation Schedule Overview:

From birth to 12 months, infants receive multiple vaccines including DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB (Infanrix hexa®) at 8, 12, and 16 weeks; meningococcal group B vaccine (MenB - Bexsero®) at 8 and 16 weeks with a booster after 1 year; pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV - Prevenar 13®) at 12 weeks; rotavirus vaccine (Rotarix®) at 8 and 12 weeks (with specific contraindications); and one dose of Hib/MenC vaccine after 1 year ¹.

From 2 to 10 years, annually from September, children are offered the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV - Fluenz Tetra®). If contraindicated, an inactivated influenza vaccine is used. At 3 years 4 months, children receive booster doses of DTaP/IPV (Boostrix IPV® or Repevax®) and MMR vaccine (VaxPRO® or Priorix®) if the first dose has been given ¹.

For children aged 10 to 25 years, annual influenza vaccination with LAIV is recommended up to 11 years old, with inactivated vaccine if contraindicated. At 12-13 years, the HPV vaccine (Gardasil®9) is given. At 14 years (school year 9), booster doses of Td/IPV (Revaxis®) and meningococcal groups A, C, W, and Y vaccine (MenACWY - Nimenrix®, Menveo®, or MenQuadfi®) are administered. A MenACWY catch-up programme is in place for older adolescents and university entrants up to 25 years ¹.

BCG vaccination is offered selectively to neonates at risk of tuberculosis based on local incidence and family history, with opportunistic vaccination for unvaccinated children up to 15 years at increased risk ³.

Vaccination administration follows strict protocols including consent, correct vaccine storage, and injection technique, with intramuscular injections typically given in the anterolateral thigh or deltoid area ¹.

Parents and carers are provided with information on vaccine benefits, safety, and management of common side effects. Children with egg allergy can receive MMR vaccine, but influenza vaccines require caution ¹.