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Immunisation and vaccination
Vaccination helps prevent you, your family, and others from becoming unwell.
If you’re not sure about you or your child’s vaccine status your GP surgery can advise or you may also be able to view via the NHS app.
View local vaccine clinics here. This will be updated regularly so please check back.
Vaccination programme updates
Vaccinations in pregnancy
The NHS has launched Stay Strong. Get Vaccinated to encourage people who are pregnant to get vaccinated against flu, RSV and whooping cough.
It explains how vaccination during pregnancy helps protect babies in their first months of life. If you are pregnant, speak to your midwife, GP or maternity team about recommended vaccinations.
Childhood immunisations update
Information for parents has been updated to reflect changes to the routine childhood vaccination programme, including the introduction of MMRV vaccination.
An updated childhood immunisation postcard is available, providing a simple overview of the infant vaccination schedule. It can be printed or shared digitally and is suitable for use across healthcare, childcare and community settings.
Translated versions will be available in the coming months.
Covid-19
COVID-19 spring booster vaccinations are offered to those at higher risk of severe illness.
The programme typically runs from April, with eligibility and timing set out in current NHS guidance. More information of Covid-19 vaccination here: Covid-19 vaccine
People at higher clinical risk may be able to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at any time of year if advised by their clinician. They do not need to wait for the seasonal booster programme. A full list of conditions can be found on page 35 and 36 of the Green Book which lists eligible conditions.
If you are not sure please speak to your local pharmacist, GP practice or specialist to check.
Flu
Flu vaccination helps protect those most at risk from serious illness and complications.
Eligibility and timing of flu vaccines may vary throughout the year, so check current NHS guidance for updates.
You can find more information on the flu vaccine here: Flu vaccine
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) can cause serious breathing problems in babies, older adults, pregnant women and those with weakened immunity. The RSV vaccine helps protect those most at risk.
Who can get it:
From 1 April 2026, vaccination will be offered in England to:
- Adults aged 80 years and over
- All residents in care homes for older adults.
This is in addition to the existing programme, which offers RSV vaccination to:
- Adults turning 75 years
- Adults aged 75 to 79 years when the programme began
- Pregnant women (to protect their newborn babies).
- People with conditions that make them more vulnerable to chest infections.
Where to get it: GP surgeries, maternity services (for pregnancy vaccination), and hospital clinics.
Find out more here: RSV vaccine
MMRV vaccine for children
From 1 January 2026, the routine childhood immunisation schedule in the UK has been updated to include a combined MMRV vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella and varicella – chickenpox) for children born on or after 1 July 2024.
The MMRV vaccine is given as two doses.
For children born on or after 1 January 2025, the first dose is usually given at 12 months and the second at 18 months.
The exact timing can vary depending on a child’s date of birth, so it’s best to follow current NHS guidance here: MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox) vaccine
A catch-up programme will run from November 2026 to March 2028 for children aged 3 years 4 months to under 6 years who have not yet had chickenpox vaccination or disease.
These changes aim to protect children earlier and strengthen population immunity against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox and is part of the national NHS immunisation programme – this is based on expert clinical advice to protect children as early as possible.
Please see more: MMRV vaccination guide for parents and carers
Whooping cough
Whooping cough (pertussis) is an infection of the lungs and breathing tubes.
It spreads very easily and can be serious. More information here: Whooping cough
The whooping cough vaccine is given to:
- The 6-in-1 vaccine – for babies at 8, 12 and 16 weeks
- The 4-in-1 pre-school booster – for children aged 3 years 4 months
- Pregnant women at around 20 weeks – to help protect your baby for the first few weeks of their life.
Speak to your GP surgery or midwife if you’re 20 weeks pregnant and have not been offered the whooping cough vaccine.
School age vaccines
Children and young people are offered routine vaccines at school, but if they missed these for any reason speak to your GP surgery to arrange a catch-up vaccine. You can also catch up with these vaccines as an adult if you missed out, your GP surgery will can advise.
Routine vaccines include those listed below. There are catch up clinics for those who may have missed out.
- Td/IVP: Tetanus, Diphtheria and Polio
- Men ACWY: Meningitis and septicaemia
- HPV: Human papillomavirus
- MMRV: Measles Mumps, Rubella and Varicella (Chickenpox
- Dtap: Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough)
Shingles
Shingles is a common condition that causes a painful rash, caused by reactivation of the chicken-pox virus – in some cases with serious complications like long-term nerve pain. You are more likely to get shingles, and it’s more likely to cause serious problems as you get older or if you have a severely weakened immune system. Vaccination significantly reduces your chances of getting shingles and reduces the risk of serious outcomes if you do.
The shingles vaccine is now recommended for:
• Anyone aged 18 years or over who has a severely weakened immune system.
• Anyone aged 70 to 79 years.
• Individuals turning 65 on or after 1 September 2023 (they remain eligible up to age 80).
More information, including an eligibility checker, is at: getshinglesready.co.uk
MPox
Mpox is an infectious disease that can cause a painful rash, fever, headache, muscle ache, back pain and low energy. There have been a small number of cases of mpox in the UK since 2022. Most people fully recover, but some get very sick.
More information about mpox and vaccination can be found here: Mpox – NHS . Mpox can spread through:
- direct contact with rash, skin lesions or scabs (including during sexual contact, kissing, cuddling or other skin-to-skin contact)
- contact with bodily fluids such as saliva, snot or mucous
- contact with clothing or linens (such as bedding or towels) or other objects and surfaces used by someone with mpox
Pneumococcal vaccination
The pneumococcal vaccine helps protect against serious illnesses such as pneumonia and meningitis. It’s recommended for people at higher risk of these illnesses, such as babies and adults aged 65 and over.
The pneumococcal vaccine helps protect against some types of bacterial infections that can cause serious illnesses, including:
- meningitis(an infection in the brain and spinal cord)
- sepsis(a life-threatening reaction to an infection)
- pneumonia(an infection in the lungs)
The pneumococcal vaccine can only been given by a healthcare professional at your GP surgery. They will usually contact you if you or your child are eligible for the pneumococcal vaccine.
You are at higher risk of getting seriously ill from pneumococcal infections if you have:
- a long-term condition that affects your breathing such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or cystic fibrosis
- a long-term condition that affects your heart such as coronary heart disease or heart failure
- chronic kidney disease
- a long-term condition that affects your liver such as cirrhosis
- diabetes
- a weakened immune system due to a condition such as HIV, or a treatment such as steroid medicine or chemotherapy
- a condition where fluid that protects the brain and spinal cord leaks out (cerebrospinal fluid leaks)
- sickle cell disease, problems with your spleen or you have had your spleen removed
- cochlear implants
Read more: Pneumococcal vaccine – NHS
