Immunisations

As children grow up, they can be exposed to infections. Most of these only cause mild illnesses. However, despite great medical advances, some infections can still cause severe illness, disability and, at times, death.

The benefit of immunisation is that your child has the best possible protection against vaccine preventable  diseases.

Once your child is immunised they're also helping to protect the health of the whole community. When enough people are immunised against an infection, it's more difficult for it to be spread to those who aren’t immunised. This is important because children with some severe medical conditions and allergies can't have certain immunisations.

If the thought of taking your child to be vaccinated is worrying you, here are some tips to make your appointment go as smoothly as possible.

The thought of getting your baby vaccinated may be stressful – but not as stressful as the thought of your baby getting ill! Diseases can be particularly serious in young babies, so it's important to make sure your wee one is protected as early as possible, to prevent them from catching these diseases.

What immunisations will my baby be offered?

Their first immunisation is offered at 8 weeks old (around 2 months). They'll be offered further doses of these immunisations when they're 12 weeks (around 3 months) and 16 weeks old (around 4 months). You can find out more about these immunisations and why they’re so important on the NHS Inform website.

Your baby will then be offered a further immunisation when they’re between 12 and 13 months old.

These immunisations protect your baby against a wide range of nasty diseases, including polio, tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, septicaemia, meningitis, measles, mumps and rubella. Some of these require several doses to build up your child’s immunity. So while it may seem like a lot of vaccinations, they’re all really important for helping keep your baby safe.

What immunisations will my pre-schooler be offered?

When your child is aged around 3 years and 4 months they’ll be offered another round to protect against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, whooping cough, measles, mumps and rubella. You can find out more about these immunisations on the NHS Inform website.

How will I know when my child needs immunised?

Your local health board will send you a letter with information about when and how your baby can get their immunisations, but if you have any questions you can find out how to contact your local vaccination service here.

You can find out more about all these immunisations on the NHS Inform website.

Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the lungs and airways. It causes repeated coughing bouts that can last for 2 to 3 months or more, and can make babies and young children in particular very ill.

Whooping cough is on the rise in Scotland at the moment, so if your wee one has missed any of their immunisations it’s important to get in touch your local NHS Immunisation team as soon as possible. 

Some children may be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine this winter, if they have a condition that means they are at higher risk of COVID-19. For the latest information about the COVID-19 vaccine and to check if your child is eligible, visit the NHS Inform website.

Your child will be offered two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination when they're around 12 months old and then from age 3 years and 4 months.

Currently, parts of the UK and Europe are seeing an increase in the number of people getting measles. So, if your child didn't get the MMR vaccinations when they were little, it's very important to get them vaccinated as soon as possible. 

This is particularly important if:

• they’re starting in nursery or with a childminder (unless they are too young to have their first and/or second doses) 
• they’re starting primary or secondary school.

This is because measles is most likely to spread when they start mixing with lots of other children.

You can find out if your child has had their MMR vaccinations by:

• checking their Red Book 
• contacting your local Health Board vaccination service.

The MMR vaccine is highly effective in preventing measles, so if your child has already received two doses you don’t need to take any further action.

But if they haven't, please visit www.nhsinform.scot/MMRagainstmeasles to find out how to get them vaccinated.   

In addition to the flu and COVID-19 vaccines (if they’re eligible for this), your child will be offered some routine immunisations in secondary school. It’s really important that your child gets all the vaccines they’re offered, to protect them from serious and, in some cases, life threatening diseases.

• The HPV vaccine helps protects against HPV-related cancers, like cervical cancer, head and neck cancer and genital cancers. It also protects against genital warts. Your child will be offered it when they’re in S1. You can find out more about the HPV vaccine here.
• The DTP vaccine completes the 5 doses required for long-term protection against diphtheria tetanus, and polio. Your child will be offered this when they’re in S3, around 14 years old. 
• The meningitis ACWY (MenACWY) vaccine helps protect against meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning). Your child will get this vaccine when they’re in S3.
• If your child didn’t have two doses of the MMR vaccine (see above) when they were younger, they'll be offered this when they’re in secondary school.

For more information about these vaccines and why they’re so important visit www.nhsinform.scot/vaccinesforyoungpeople.

Do boys need to get the HPV vaccine?

Yes! We often associate the HPV vaccine with preventing cervical cancer, but it also protects from head and neck cancer and cancers of the penis and anus, so it’s just as important that boys get the vaccine too.

How will I know when my child needs immunised?

Vaccines consent packs will be sent home from school. It’s important that you chat to your child about the vaccines offered, sign the consent form and return to school by the deadline provided. If your child misses school on vaccination day, they’ll be able to get the vaccine(s) at a later date. 

Children who are home educated or are not in mainstream school are also eligible for these vaccines. You can an appointment by getting in touch with your local NHS immunisation team. Contact details can be found on the NHS Inform website.

It’s important that you go to your GP or hospital if there is anything wrong. Trust your instincts. If you or your child has a health concern, contact your GP surgery or phone 111 for out of hours support, and call 999 if it's an emergency.