Child Immunisations

 

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Childhood Immunisations

If a vaccine is given when a baby still has antibodies to the disease, the antibodies can stop the vaccine working. This is why routine childhood immunisations do not start until a baby is two months old, before the antibodies a baby gets from its mother have stopped working. This is also why it is important for parents to stick to the immunisation schedule, as a delay can leave a baby unprotected. A delay can increase the chance of adverse reactions to some vaccines, such as pertussis (whooping cough).

image representing child immunisations

 

Vaccination Schedule

At two months old: 

  • Diptheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) (DTaP/IPV/Hib) - one injection 
  • Pneumococcal infection - pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) - one injection 
 

At three months old:

  • Diptheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) (DTaP/IPV/Hib) - one injection 
  • Meningitis C (meningococcal group C) (MenC) - one injection 
 

At four months old: 

  • Diptheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) (DTaP/IPV/Hib) - one injection 
  • Meningitis C (meningococcal group C) (MenC) - one injection 
  • Pneumococcal infection - pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) - one injection 
 

At around 12 months old: 

  • Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and meningitis C (Hib/MenC) - booster dose in one injection
 

At around 13 months old: 

  • Measles, mumps and rubella (German measles) (MMR) - one injection 
  • Pneumococcal infection - pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) - one injection 
 

Three years four months to five years old (pre-school): 

  • Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) and polio (dTaP/IPV or DTaP/IPV) - one injection
  • Measles, mumps and rubella (German measles) (MMR) - one injection 
  • 13 to 18 years old: 
  • Diphtheria, tetanus and polio (Td/IPV) - one injection