Here's a checklist of the vaccines that are routinely offered to everyone in the UK free of charge on the NHS and the ages at which they should ideally be given.
If you're not sure whether you or your child have had all your routine vaccinations, ask your GP or practice nurse to find out for you. It may be possible to catch up later in life.
Try to have your vaccinations delivered on time to ensure protection. If you're not going to be able to get to the GP surgery when a vaccination is due, talk to your doctor, as it may be possible to arrange to have the vaccination at a different location.
8 weeks
6-in-1 vaccine, given as a single jab containing vaccines to protect against six separate diseases: diphtheria; tetanus; whooping cough (pertussis); polio; Haemophilus influenzae type b, known as Hib, a bacterial infection that can cause severe pneumonia or meningitis in young children; and hepatitis B
12 weeks
6-in-1 vaccine, second dose
Rotavirus vaccine, second dose
16 weeks
6-in-1 vaccine, third dose
Pneumococcal (PCV) vaccine, second dose
MenB vaccine second dose
One year
Hib/MenC vaccine, given as a single jab containing vaccines against meningitis C (first dose) and Hib (fourth dose)
Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, given as a single jab
Pneumococcal (PCV) vaccine, third dose
MenB vaccine, third dose
2-8 years (including children in reception class and school years 1 to 4)
Children's flu vaccine (annual)
3 years and 4 months
Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, second dose
4-in-1 pre-school booster, given as a single jab containing vaccines against: diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis) and polio
12-13 years (girls only)
HPV vaccine, which protects against cervical cancer – two injections given 6-12 months apart
14 years
3-in-1 teenage booster, given as a single jab containing vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus and polio
MenACWY vaccine, given as a single jab containing vaccines against meningitis A, C, W and Y
65 years
65 and over
Flu vaccine (every year)
70 years (and 78 and 79-year-olds as a catch-up)
Vaccines for special groups
There are some vaccines that aren't routinely available to everyone on the NHS but are available for people who fall into certain risk groups, such as vaccines for healthcare workers, pregnant women and people with long-term health conditions.
Additional vaccines for special groups include:
- flu jab for pregnant women
- whooping cough vaccine for pregnant women
- flu vaccine for people with long-term health conditions
- hepatitis B vaccination
- TB vaccination
- chickenpox vaccination
- MenACWY for first-time university entrants
Travel vaccines
There are some travel vaccines that you should be able to have free on the NHS from your local surgery. These include:
Other travel vaccines, such as yellow fever vaccination, are only available privately.
Find out more from our section on travel vaccines.
