Vaccinations – Childhood Vaccinations

Why are vaccinations so important?

Vaccines have been around for a long time and have been saving lives in the UK for decades. They undergo rigorous research, safety testing and monitoring to make sure they are safe for you and your family.

Vaccination helps:

• protect your child from many serious and potentially deadly diseases
• to stop dangerous diseases from spreading in local communities
• to keep vulnerable people safe, including babies, people living with certain health conditions and older people.

What vaccinations does my child need?

NHS routine childhood vaccinations are free. Staying up to date with your child’s vaccinations throughout their childhood will provide them with the best protection against deadly diseases. Find out which vaccinations your child needs and when below.

Where to go for trusted information?

It’s okay to have questions about whether vaccination is the right decision for your child. 

But it is important to be mindful about where you receive your information from. Anti-vaccine stories and false information can often be spread online through social media or through word of mouth.

Always get your vaccine and health information from trusted sources, such as the NHS or the World Health Organisation (WHO). You can also speak to your GP or health visitor for advice about what vaccines are right for you and your family.

Vaccination information you see on social media may not be based on scientific evidence. All the current evidence tells us that getting vaccinated is safer than not getting vaccinated.

View your vaccinations in your GP records! This can be accessed through your NHS App or NHS Online.