top of page

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

🎓 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


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


bottom of page