Vaccinations that will protect your child
Childhood diseases can spread fast through classrooms and playgrounds, but vaccinations stop many of them from becoming serious, or spreading – including to adults who are at risk, such as pregnant women or people undergoing chemotherapy.
What vaccinations should my child have?
The UK vaccination programme starts at eight weeks and carries on into the teenage years.
Schedules may differ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, so check your nation’s NHS guidance for specifics. Here are the links for:
What happens on vaccination day?
Once your child is school age, most vaccinations happen at school. You'll get a consent form to fill in beforehand, and a school-specific team will give the vaccinations.
If your child misses a dose, you can usually go to a catch-up clinic. If you’re not sure which vaccinations your child has had, check with their GP surgery.
How can I make vaccination day easier for a nervous child?
Needle fear is common in children and adults, but school vaccination teams are usually very experienced with overcoming nerves. If you’re concerned about your child, try contacting the team beforehand for advice.
It can also help to:
Be honest – explain it might hurt for a moment, then it’s over.
Try talking about something else so they’re not dwelling on it.
Make sure the child has had breakfast and is feeling otherwise well.
Look at pictures or videos of vaccination in the weeks beforehand, to get used to the idea. Work up from ‘cartoon’ pictures, to real photos, to videos.
