Vaccinations

NHS childhood vaccination schedule to shift to a new 18 month appointment

The NHS childhood vaccination schedule will change from 1^st July 2025 for a number of vaccinations, something the NHS in Lincolnshire is keen to ensure parents and guardians of 0 – 5 year-olds are aware of.

This change follows on from Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommendations for a number of vaccination schedule changes.

“The change to the NHS childhood vaccination schedule will affect several childhood vaccines including MMR, PCV, MenB, and Hib/Men C. It will also see the introduction of a new 18 month appointment starting from 1^st January 2026,” explains Karen Goy, Lead Nurse for Quality and Risk – Vaccination Programme, NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board.

“In practical terms what this means is that, from 1 July 2025, some babies and children will be offered a new schedule for some vaccinations. For those born from 1^st July 2024 onwards, the current 12 month Hib/MenC vaccine will stop and will be replaced with a further Hib-containing vaccine given at 18 months alongside the bringing forward of the second dose of MMR vaccine. Those born before 1^st July 2024 will remain on the current schedule, having already have received vaccines to protect against these diseases.

“Additionally, the MenB vaccine will be given at 12 weeks rather than the current 16 to offer earlier protection following recent studies showing MenB circulating in younger children. This will replace PCV which will be given at 16 weeks to reduce the number of vaccines given in one appointment.  All of these changes are driven by a need to offer protection to children against serious diseases at the right time, providing protection when children need it most.”

Due to the success of the National teenage MenACWY vaccination programme, MenC is now very well controlled in the UK with very low cases annually. As a result, a dose of MenC containing vaccine is no longer required in the second year of life and children will now receive their first dose of MenC in school year 9 as part of the MenACWY programme.

Vaccinations save lives and protect people’s health, ranking second only to clean water as the most effective public health intervention to protect disease. So, from 1 July 2025, the NHS wants parents and guardians of 0-5 year-old children to remember to make sure their children are up to date with their childhood vaccinations, such as MMR and MenB.

“Childhood vaccines alone prevent between 3.5 and 5 million deaths every year across the world, however, vaccination uptake in England has been declining for over ten years,” comments Karen. “Really, what this change to the childhood vaccination schedule boils down to is putting ourselves in the best possible position to provide the maximum protection against our children becoming very unwell with serious infections that are preventable.

“If you’re not sure whether your child’s vaccinations are up to date, speak to your GP,” adds Karen. “And remember that, from 1 January 2026, the NHS childhood vaccine schedule will have a total of 6 routine appointments – these will be at 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, one year, 18 months and 3 years 4 months – and it is important your child has their vaccines when they are invited, to offer the best timely protection against serious and preventable diseases.”

For more information and advice, visit NHS vaccinations and when to have them - NHS.