A Guide to Routine Vaccinations

Vaccination checklist

Here’s a checklist of the vaccines that are routinely offered to everyone in the UK for free on the NHS, and the age at which you should ideally have them.

2 months

  • Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib, a bacterial infection that can cause severe pneumonia or meningitis in young children) given as a 5-in-1 single jab known as DTaP/IPV/Hib
  • Pneumococcal infection 

3 months

  • 5-in-1, second dose (DTaP/IPV/Hib)
  • Meningitis C

4 months

  • 5-in-1, third dose (DTaP/IPV/Hib)
  • Pneumococcal infection, second dose
  • Meningitis C, second dose

Between 12 and 13 months

  • Meningitis C, third dose
  • Hib, fourth dose (Hib/MenC given as a single jab)
  • MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), given as a single jab
  • Pneumococcal infection, third dose

3 years and 4 months, or soon after

  • MMR second jab
  • Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio (DtaP/IPV), given as a 4-in-1 pre-school booster

Around 12-13 years

Cervical cancer (HPV) vaccine, which protects against cervical cancer (girls only): three jabs given within six months

Around 13-18 years

Diphtheria, tetanus and polio booster (Td/IPV), given as a single jab

65 and over

  • Flu (every year)
  • Pneumococcal

Vaccines for risk groups

People who fall into certain risk groups may be offered extra vaccines.

These include vaccinations against diseases such as hepatitis B, tuberculosis (TB), seasonal flu and chickenpox.

See the NHS Guidance on vaccines for adults to find out whether you should have one.