Child Health

Childrens Health

There is a good guide on the NHS website which describes various conditions affecting children. There is advice on how to diagnose them, how to treat them and if further advice should be consulted.

NHS childhood illness slideshow

When Should I Worry?

Having an ill child can be a very scary experience for parents. If you understand more about the illness it can help you to feel more in control. This booklet is for parents (and older children) and deals with common infections in children who are normally healthy.

Download the booklet

Children's Immunisation Schedule

Here's a checklist of the vaccines that are routinely offered to everyone in the UK for free on the NHS, and the age at which you should ideally have them.

Routine childhood immunisations

When to immunise

Diseases protected against

Vaccine given

Site**

Two months old

Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib)

DTaP/IPV/Hib (Pediacel)

Thigh

Pneumococcal disease

PCV (Prevenar 13)

Thigh

Rotavirus

Rotavirus (Rotarix)

By mouth

Meningococcal group B (Men B)

Men B

Left thigh

Three months old

 

Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Hib

DTaP/IPV/Hib (Pediacel)

Thigh

Meningococcal group C disease (Men C)

Men C (NeisVac-C or Menjugate)

Thigh

Rotavirus

Rotavirus (Rotarix)

By mouth

     

Four months old

 

 

Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Hib

DTaP/IPV/Hib (Pediacel)

Thigh

Pneumococcal disease

PCV (Prevenar 13)

Thigh

Meningococcal group B (Men B)

Men B

Left thigh

     

One year old

 

 

Hib/Men C

Hib/Men C (Menitorix)

Upper arm/thigh

Pneumococcal disease

PCV (Prevenar 13)

Upper arm/thigh

Measles, mumps and rubella (German measles)

MMR (Priorix or MMR VaxPRO)

Upper arm/thigh

Men B

Men B booster

Left thigh

     

Two to six years old
(including children in
school years 1 and 2)

Influenza (each year from September)

Live attenuated influenza
vaccine LAIV4

Both nostrils

       

Three years four months old or soon after

 

Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio

dTaP/IPV (Repevax) or DTaP/IPV (Infanrix-IPV)

Upper arm

Measles, mumps and rubella

MMR (Priorix or MMR VaxPRO)(check first dose has been given)

Upper arm

Please note

Where two or more injections are required at once, these should ideally be given in different limbs. Where this is not possible, injections in the same limb should be given 2.5cm apart.

Immunisations for at-risk children

Target Group

Age & Schedule

Disease

Vaccines required

Babies born to hepatitis B infected
mothers

At birth, four weeks, eight weeks
and Boost at one year1

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B vaccine
(Engerix B / HBvaxPRO)

Infants in areas of the country with
TB incidence >= 40/100,000

At birth

Tuberculosis

BCG

Infants with a parent or grandparent
born in a high incidence country

At birth

Tuberculosis

BCG

NHS Choices Conditions and Treatments

See the NHS Choices Conditions and Treatments browser for an in-depth description of many common health issues.

These links all come from trusted resources but if you are unsure about these or any other medical matters please contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.