August is Immunisation Awareness Month, a national campaign raising awareness of how vaccines protect people of all ages against serious diseases.
Vaccination is one of the safest and most effective ways to protect yourself, your family and your community. If you’re unsure whether you or your child are up to date with vaccinations, please contact the practice and we’ll be happy to help.
Why are vaccinations important?
Vaccines help to:
• Protect against serious illnesses such as measles, whooping cough and meningitis.
• Protect babies, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.
• Reduce the spread of infectious diseases within our communities.
• Train your immune system to fight infections safely.
• Prevent diseases that once caused serious illness from becoming common again.
• Vaccines used by the NHS are thoroughly tested for safety and effectiveness before they are introduced and continue to be closely monitored. Most side effects are mild and short-lived.
NHS vaccinations by age
| Age: | Vaccinations: |
|---|---|
| 8 weeks | 6-in-1, Rotavirus, MenB |
| 12 weeks | 6-in-1 (2nd dose), Rotavirus (2nd dose), MenB (2nd dose) |
| 16 weeks | 6-in-1 (3rd dose), Pneumococcal |
| 1 year | MMR, Pneumococcal (2nd dose), MenB (3rd dose) |
| 18 months | 6-in-1 (4th dose*), MMR (2nd dose*) |
| 3 years 4 months | MMR (2nd dose**), 4-in-1 pre-school booster |
| 2–15 years | Annual children’s flu vaccine |
| 12–13 years | HPV vaccine |
| 14 years | MenACWY, Td/IPV teenage booster |
| 65 years and over | Annual flu vaccine, Pneumococcal vaccine, Shingles (where eligible) |
| 75 years and over | RSV vaccine, seasonal COVID-19 vaccination (when eligible) |
| During pregnancy | Flu, Whooping Cough (Pertussis) and RSV vaccines |
* For children born on or after 1 July 2024.
** For children born on or before 30 June 2024.
Don’t forget…
You may also be eligible for:
• Travel vaccinations before travelling abroad.
• Catch-up vaccinations if you’ve missed any routine vaccines.
• Vaccinations because of certain medical conditions or weakened immunity.
• Vaccinations during pregnancy to help protect both you and your baby.
Think you may have missed a vaccination?
If you think you or your child may have missed a vaccination, or you’re unsure what you’re eligible for, please contact the practice. We can check your vaccination record and advise if any vaccines are due.
You can contact us by email, eConsult (click here), or by telephone on 01392 432761.
