Is your child up to date with their vaccinations?
Routine childhood immunisations are free on the NHS and protect children against diseases that can make them very unwell and even put them in hospital. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) estimates that childhood vaccinations prevent around 5,000 deaths and more than 228,000 hospital admissions in England every year.
Illnesses like measles are serious and spread very easily between children who are not vaccinated. If your child is not vaccinated it will leave them unprotected against these diseases that are easily preventable.
In January 2026, the NHS introduced protection against chickenpox into the childhood vaccination programme – with the MMRV vaccine now protecting children against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox.
The MMRV vaccine is now usually given in two doses – one at 12 months and one at 18 months old, to ensure more children are fully protected before starting school. So if your child is approaching their first birthday, look out for your invitation from your GP practice to come in and have them vaccinated. If your child is slightly older, check when they should have their vaccinations on the NHS website.
If you think your child has missed one or more of their routine vaccinations,
it’s never too late to catch up.
Ask at your GP surgery or call the Commmunity and School-Aged Immunisation Service on 0300 555 5055 (choose option 7). Have your child’s red book handy and bring it along to any vaccination appointments.