📢 UK Childhood Vaccination Schedule (2025) & What To Do If a Dose Is Missed

Practice a case with the AI patient 🤖

🎓 UK Childhood Immunisation Schedule (2025)

Age	Vaccines Given
8 weeks	6-in-1 (DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB), MenB (1), Rotavirus (1)
12 weeks	6-in-1 (2), MenB (2), Rotavirus (2)
16 weeks	6-in-1 (3), PCV (1)
1 year	Hib/MenC (for children born ≤ 30 June 2024), PCV booster(2), MMR (1), MenB booster(3)
18 months	6-in-1 (4) (4th dose for children born ≥ 1 July 2024), MMR (2) (for those born ≥ July 2024)
2 to 17 years	Annual nasal flu (LAIV) each autumn/winter (every year until children finish Year 11 of secondary school)
3y 4m	Pre-school booster: 4-in-1 (DTaP/IPV), MMR (2) (for those born ≤ June 2024)
12–13 years	HPV vaccine (2 doses)
14 years	Td/IPV vaccine (3-in-1 teenage booster)MenACWY vaccine

⚡ Exam Pearls:

• LAIV (Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine): Nasal spray, annual, contraindicated in severe asthma, immunosuppression, or aspirin use

• MMR timing differs depending on birth cohort (check for July 2024 cutoff)

• MenB moved earlier to 12 weeks in updated schedule

🧪 Vaccine Types & High-Yield Characteristics

Type	Examples	Key Points
Live Attenuated	MMR, BCG, Yellow Fever, Nasal Flu, Oral Typhoid	Strong immunity, contraindicated in immunocompromised or pregnancy
Inactivated	Rabies, Hep A, IPV, JE (IXIARO)	Safe in immunocompromised, but may need boosters
Toxoid	Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis toxoid	Targets bacterial toxins; used in combination vaccines
Subunit (Recombinant)	HPV, Hep B, MenB	Contains fragments, safe, needs adjuvants and multiple doses
Conjugate	Hib, MenC, PCV, MenACWY	Polysaccharide + protein, especially effective in infants/young children

Catch-up Vaccination (UK, 2025) — What to do if a child is late

Golden rules for catch-up

• Don’t restart a course, no matter how long the gap.

• Use minimum 4-week intervals between doses of the same vaccine unless guidance says otherwise. GOV.UK

• Give due vaccines today if eligible; book the remainder at the earliest valid interval. nhs.uk

• https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/nhs-vaccinations-and-when-to-have-them/

Vaccine	If late, how many to give now?	Minimum gaps	Any age cut-off?
6-in-1	Complete to 3 primaries; plus 18-month 6-in-1 booster for July 2025+ cohort	4 weeks between primaries	None for catch-up in childhood (follow Green Book) GOV.UK+1
MenB	Finish 2 primaries + 1 booster on/after 1 y	≥8 w between primaries; booster ≥8 w after last	Routine eligibility until 2 y (beyond this only for risk groups) GOV.UK+1
Rotavirus	Do not give if over limits	—	Start by 14 w 6 d; finish by 23 w 6 d; none at ≥24 w 0 d GOV.UK+1
PCV	If ≥1 y and missed: give the 1-year dose (regardless of earlier PCV)	≥4 w after any prior PCV	No extra primary needed once ≥1 y healthy child gets the booster GOV.UK
MMR	2 doses if not fully immunised	≥4 w apart	No upper age cut-off; avoid in pregnancy nhs.uk
Flu	Offer within current season	—	Annual programme only GOV.UK
4-in-1 (pre-school)	1 dose if missed, from 3 y+	(Local min gap after last DTaP applies)	— GOV.UK
HPV	<25 y: usually 1 dose; 25–45 y: 2; immunocompromised: 3	Per NHS rules (e.g., 6–24 m for 2-dose adult schedule)	Catch-up to age 25 for school programme nhs.uk+1
Td/IPV teenage	1 dose if missed	—	Catch-up via school/GP nhs.uk
MenACWY	1 dose if missed	—	Catch-up to age 25 (esp. freshers) nhs.uk