Healthy Living
Childhood Immunisation
Immunisation is the safest and most effective way of protecting against serious diseases. See guidance page for more information.
NHS Haringey strongly recommends that children are vaccinated according to the national schedule. This will provide protection against diseases, such as Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Whooping Cough, Diphtheria, Polio, Pneumococcal, Meningitis C and Hib. We also strongly recommend the BCG vaccine, which protects against tuberculosis, for all children under one. Hepatitis B and BCG for older children may also be advised for children at particular risk, after a risk assessment has been carried out by a clinician.
Girls are also offered the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine when they are between 12 and 13 years of age, year 8 at school.
For more information about these specific diseases and recommended immunisation schedules, please visit NHS Choices website - Immunisations
Children are advised to have immunisations according to the national schedule.
| Childhood Vaccination Schedule | ||
|---|---|---|
| Age at vaccination | Disease protected | Vaccine |
| At birth or a soon as possible after birth | Tuberculosis TB Hepatitis B infection* | BCG (given to all Haringey babies) Hepatitis B vaccine* to babies at specific risk |
| 2 months old (8 weeks) | Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (whooping cough), Polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), and Pneumococcal infection | DTaP/IPV/Hib Vaccine pneumococcal conjugate (PCV) vaccine |
| 3 months old (12 weeks) | Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and Meningococcal group C infection | DTaP/IPV/Hib Vaccine MenC vaccine |
| 4 months (16 weeks) |
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), Meningococcal group C and Pneumococcal infections |
DTaP/IPV/Hib Vaccine MenC Vaccine pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) |
| After the 1st birthday (between 12 and 13 months of age) | Measles, Mumps and Rubella (German Measles), Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), Meningococcal group C and Pneumococcal infections |
MMR Vaccine Hib/MenC Vaccine Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) |
| Three years four months or soon after | Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis and Polio, Measles, Mumps and Rubella | DTaP/IPV or dTaP/IPV Vaccine MMR Vaccine |
| Girls age Twelve to Thirteen years old | Human Papiloma Virus (HPV) | Human Papilomavirus Vaccine |
| Thirteen to eighteen years old | Tetanus, Diphtheria and Polio | Td/IPV Vaccine |
* Hepatitis B vaccine is given to babies at specific risk of exposure to hepatitis B disease. Four doses of vaccine are given at birth, 1 month, 2 months and 1 year of age to those at risk.
Immunisation is the safest and most effective way of protecting your child against serious diseases. Children are advised to have immunisations according to the national schedule.
Why are babies vaccinated so early?
Many diseases can be particularly serious in young babies. It is important to make sure babies are protected as early as possible to prevent them catching these diseases.
How will I know when my child’s immunisations are due?
Your doctor’s surgery or clinic will send you an appointment for you to bring your child for immunisation. Most surgeries and health centres run special immunisation or baby clinics. If you can’t get to the clinic, contact your surgery to make another appointment. Or if you are unsure contact your surgery to arrange an appointment for the nurse to check. You can check on the immunisation web site for the complete childhood immunisation schedule.
Remember!
It is never too late to have your child immunised. Talk to your doctor, practice nurse or health visitor to arrange for your child to be immunised - even if your child has missed an immunisation and is older than the recommended ages.
