Your baby’s vaccinations: the NHS schedule and what to expect

The NHS offers your baby free vaccinations to help protect them against serious illnesses. This is the routine schedule for babies born on or after 1 January 2025, and what to expect on the day.

The schedule

This is the NHS routine vaccination schedule for babies born on or after 1 January 2025:

8 weeks: 6-in-1, MenB and rotavirus
12 weeks: 6-in-1, MenB and rotavirus
16 weeks: 6-in-1 and pneumococcal (PCV)
1 year: pneumococcal (PCV), MenB and MMRV
18 months: 6-in-1 and MMRV
3 years 4 months: 4-in-1 pre-school booster

Your GP surgery usually contacts you to book. The first vaccinations are due at 8 weeks, and the NHS says to contact your GP surgery if you haven’t been contacted about them.

If your child was born before 1 January 2025, some vaccines are given at different ages. The NHS vaccination schedule page shows which apply.

What each vaccine protects against

6-in-1: diphtheria, hepatitis B, Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b), polio, tetanus and whooping cough. Your baby has 4 doses, at 8, 12 and 16 weeks and 18 months.
MenB: meningococcal group B bacteria, which can cause serious illnesses including meningitis and sepsis. Your baby has 3 doses, at 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 1 year.
Rotavirus: a common cause of diarrhoea and vomiting. It doesn’t protect against diarrhoea and vomiting caused by other illnesses, such as norovirus. It’s given as a liquid squirted into your baby’s mouth, at 8 and 12 weeks.
Pneumococcal (PCV): some types of bacterial infection that can cause serious illnesses like meningitis, sepsis and pneumonia. Your baby has a first dose at 16 weeks and a booster at 1 year.
MMRV: measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox (varicella). Your baby has 1 dose at 1 year and 1 at 18 months.
4-in-1 pre-school booster: diphtheria, polio, tetanus and whooping cough, given at 3 years 4 months, before your child starts school.

The NHS says babies under 12 months have their injections in the thigh. Older children have them in the arm.

On the day

Take your baby’s red book (personal child health record).
Don’t rush to get there. The NHS says giving yourself plenty of time can help you and your baby avoid feeling stressed.
Hold your baby on your knee during the injections.
Your baby may cry for a little while afterwards, but should feel better after a cuddle.

If your baby has a high temperature or is very unwell when a vaccine is due, the NHS says they may need to wait until they feel better. Contact your GP surgery to rearrange.

Paracetamol after the MenB vaccine

The NHS recommends giving your baby liquid paracetamol after the MenB vaccine at 8 weeks and 12 weeks old, to help prevent or treat a high temperature.

Give 3 doses. Give the first as soon as possible after the vaccination, the second 4 to 6 hours later, and the third 4 to 6 hours after that.
Leave at least 4 hours between doses, and don’t give more than 4 doses in 24 hours.
Follow the instructions that come with the medicine. If you’re unsure, ask a pharmacist.

Never give aspirin to children under 16 unless a doctor has prescribed it.

Common side effects

Side effects are usually mild, and not all babies get them. The NHS lists these as common:

swelling, redness or pain where the injection was given. It can be sore and red for 2 to 3 days, and should go away on its own.
a high temperature
being tired, irritable or unsettled
feeding less than usual
diarrhoea or being sick

The NHS says MenB side effects usually get better within 1 or 2 days. After the rotavirus vaccine, diarrhoea and irritability are common. Some side effects of the MMRV vaccine can appear later:

about 6 to 10 days after: a raised, blotchy rash like a measles rash, feeling unwell and a high temperature. This is not infectious.
about 2 to 3 weeks after: swelling around the face and aching joints. This is not infectious.
about 3 to 4 weeks after: a spotty rash where the injection was given. It may contain chickenpox virus, so keep it covered.

If your baby has a high temperature, the NHS says to make sure they’re not wearing too many layers of clothes or blankets, and to give them plenty to drink. You can give liquid paracetamol or ibuprofen for children to bring their temperature down. Check it’s suitable for your baby, and ask a pharmacist if you’re not sure.

Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) are very rare and usually happen within minutes. The person giving the vaccine is trained to treat them straight away.

When to get help

Call 999 or go to A&E if your baby is under 3 months old and has a temperature of 38C or higher. The NHS lists this as a sign that a baby may be seriously ill.

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or call NHS 111 if your baby:

is 3 to 6 months old and has a temperature of 39C or higher
still has a high temperature more than 48 hours after their MenB vaccination
keeps being sick, has blood in their poo or poo that looks like redcurrant jelly, or has a swollen or painful tummy after the rotavirus vaccine
stops feeding, or shows signs of dehydration, such as fewer wet nappies
is unwell and you’re worried about them

The NHS also says to speak to a GP or call 111 if you’re worried about how your baby has reacted to a vaccination. For signs that need 999, see when to get urgent help for your baby.

If your baby missed a vaccination

The NHS says it’s best to have vaccinations on time, but if your baby misses one, contact your GP surgery to catch up. They can book or rearrange appointments.

Rotavirus has age limits. The first dose can be given up to 15 weeks old, and the second up to 24 weeks old.
MenB and pneumococcal vaccines can still be given up to the age of 2.
The 6-in-1 and the 4-in-1 pre-school booster can still be given up to the age of 10.

If you’re not sure which vaccines your baby has had, check their red book or ask your GP surgery.

Questions people ask

Should I give paracetamol before the vaccination?

The NHS advice is to give the first dose as soon as possible after the MenB vaccination at 8 and 12 weeks, then 2 more doses 4 to 6 hours apart.

My baby has a temperature after their vaccinations. What should I do?

A high temperature is a common side effect. If your baby is under 3 months with a temperature of 38C or higher, call 999 or go to A&E. If they’re 3 to 6 months with 39C or higher, ask for an urgent GP appointment or call NHS 111. Call 111 too if the temperature lasts more than 48 hours after the MenB vaccine.

Do I need to do anything after the rotavirus vaccine?

The NHS says your baby’s poo may contain a weakened form of rotavirus for a few weeks. The risk of illness is very small, but keep washing your hands regularly, especially after changing nappies.

We missed an appointment. Is it too late?

Usually not. Contact your GP surgery to catch up. The rotavirus vaccine has the strictest age limits, so call as soon as you can.