Makindo Medical Notes

💉 Childhood Vaccination Timings in the UK

The UK childhood vaccination schedule protects children 🧒👶 from life-threatening infectious diseases 🦠. Timely vaccination ensures both individual immunity and herd protection. This guide summarises the schedule, clinical notes, and special considerations.

📅 Vaccination Schedule

• At Birth :
  • 🦠 BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) ➝ For babies at high risk of tuberculosis (TB).
  • 💡 Not routine for all, targeted for high-risk groups (e.g., TB-endemic families).
• 8 Weeks :
  • 💉 6-in-1 Vaccine ➝ Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, Hib, Hepatitis B.
  • 🫁 Pneumococcal (PCV13)
  • 💩 Rotavirus (oral) ➝ live attenuated, protects against severe gastroenteritis.
  • 🧠 MenB (Meningococcal B)
• 12 Weeks :
  • 💉 6-in-1 Vaccine (2nd dose)
  • 💩 Rotavirus (2nd dose – last dose, not given beyond 24 weeks due to intussusception risk).
• 16 Weeks :
  • 💉 6-in-1 Vaccine (3rd dose)
  • 🫁 Pneumococcal (PCV13) (2nd dose)
  • 🧠 MenB (2nd dose)
• 1 Year :
  • 🧠 Hib/MenC ➝ Booster for Haemophilus influenzae type b + Meningococcal C.
  • 🤒 MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) (1st dose)
  • 🫁 Pneumococcal (PCV13) (3rd dose, final)
  • 🧠 MenB (3rd dose)
• 2–3 Years (annual during flu season):
  • 🤧 Flu Vaccine (nasal spray)
  • 💡 Live attenuated – not used in immunocompromised children.
• 3 Years 4 Months :
  • 💉 4-in-1 Pre-school Booster ➝ Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio.
  • 🤒 MMR (2nd dose)
• 12–13 Years (Boys & Girls) :
  • 🧬 HPV Vaccine (2 doses, protects against cervical, anal, oral cancers & genital warts).
• 14 Years :
  • 💉 3-in-1 Teenage Booster ➝ Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio.
  • 🧠 MenACWY ➝ protects against meningococcal groups A, C, W, Y.

⚠️ Special Cases

• High-Risk Groups :
  • Children with chronic illness (e.g., congenital heart disease, immunodeficiency) may require tailored schedules.
  • 💡 Extra vaccines ➝ Hepatitis A, influenza injections, RSV monoclonal (in some infants).
• Travel Vaccinations :
  • 🌍 Yellow fever, Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Rabies may be required for international travel.

💉 UK vs US Childhood Vaccination Schedules (with Policy Reasons)

📌 Key Revision Notes

• 🇬🇧 ➝ MenB early, no universal Varicella, selective BCG.
• 🇺🇸 ➝ Universal HepB, Varicella, HepA, earlier Flu vaccine.
• Both ➝ HPV, MenACWY, MMR, DTaP/Polio boosters, but timings differ slightly.

📌 Clinical Pearls

✅ Give MenB with paracetamol prophylaxis in infants to reduce fever risk.
✅ Rotavirus is oral ➝ do not re-administer if baby spits it out.
✅ MMR is live ➝ avoid in immunocompromised or during pregnancy.
✅ HPV protects boys too (anal/oropharyngeal cancer).
✅ Herd immunity protects vulnerable patients (newborns, immunosuppressed).

📝 Summary

The UK childhood vaccination schedule is one of the safest and most effective interventions in modern medicine. It prevents diseases like meningitis, polio, measles, and pertussis that once caused major childhood deaths. 💡 Ensuring timely completion maximises protection and safeguards public health.