Routine childhood immunizations protect children against many diseases that can be very serious.
Why does this change happen?
The NHS Children’s Immunization Schedule has recently been updated to give children better protection against disease. The changes include adding vaccines to protect children earlier against some diseases and against more diseases.
What should I do as a parent/guardian?
Your GP practice will usually contact you when your child is due for their next routine vaccination appointment. This can be done via letter, text, phone call or email.
If you know it is time for your child to have their vaccination but have not been contacted, you can contact your GP practice to make an appointment.
What changes?
The MMRV vaccine replaces the MMR vaccine.
From 1 January 2026, the MMRV vaccine will be introduced into the routine childhood immunization schedule in England. The MMRV vaccine prevents four serious diseases: measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox (chickenpox). The MMRV vaccine has been used safely for over a decade and is already part of the routine childhood immunization schedule in several countries, including Canada, Australia, and Germany.
When your child will be vaccinated against MMRV will depend on their date of birth. Children born after September 1, 2022 will receive one or two doses of MMRV vaccine as part of their routine immunizations. Children born between January 1, 2020 and August 31, 2022 will be given one MMRV booster dose if they have not yet had chickenpox or been vaccinated. This vaccine will be available between November 2026 and March 2028. More information about qualifications can be found in our blog post. What is the MMRV vaccine and is my child eligible?
1 year term change
Hib/MenC vaccine is no longer available at routine annual vaccine appointments. This is because the youth MenACWY program has resulted in a significant reduction in meningococcal infection cases. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI, an expert group) no longer recommends a single dose of MenC-containing vaccine for infants..
The JCVI now recommends a booster dose of the 6-in-1 vaccine. Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is available for 1-year or 18-month reservations, depending on your child’s date of birth. This will help prevent the spread of Hib within the community and maintain herd immunity. Prevents diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, Hib and hepatitis B.
For children born on or after July 1, 2024, the fourth dose of the 6-in-1 vaccine will be given at 18 months. Children born before July 1, 2024, who have not yet received the 12-month vaccine may receive a booster dose of Hib/MenC or 6-in-1 vaccine.
Introducing the 18 Month Commitment
For children born after 1 July 2024, a new 18-month commitment will be introduced. In this appointment, the fourth dose of the 6-in-1 vaccine will be given at 18 months instead of 12 months.
The new 18-month appointment also gives you the opportunity to get your second dose of the MMRV vaccine earlier by moving forward from the 3-year, 4-month appointment to the 18-month appointment. This will ensure children are protected from measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox from a younger age, reducing their chances of getting sick and helping to increase vaccination rates.
Second dose of previously given meningococcal B (MenB) vaccine
The second dose of meningococcal B (MenB) vaccine, previously given at 16 weeks of age, has been moved to 12 weeks from 1 July 2025. (First dose given at 8 weeks)
MenB can cause serious illnesses, including meningitis and sepsis. Moving the second dose to 12 weeks helps provide greater protection earlier. This is particularly important because since the vaccine was introduced in 2015, there has been an increase in cases of meningitis B in young babies who have not yet been protected by a second dose of the vaccine. The JCVI advised that it may be beneficial to move the second dose of MenB vaccine to 12 weeks of age to provide earlier protection.
Pneumococcal vaccine given later: The first dose of pneumococcal vaccine has been changed from 12 to 16 weeks of age.
The first dose is pneumococcal vaccinePreviously given at 12 weeks, it is now given at 16 weeks, allowing you to get the MenB vaccine earlier. This will be introduced from 1 July 2025. Even if your baby gets the pneumococcal vaccine four weeks later than usual, he or she will still be protected. This is because pneumococcal disease is now very rare in young babies due to high vaccination rates in the wider community providing herd immunity.
Where can I find more information?
These updates to childhood immunizations help provide children with maximum protection against serious diseases.
