The national routine childhood immunisation is shown below. Six weeks after you have your baby, you should make a double appointment with the doctor for a post natal examination for you and a check for your baby. At this appointment the doctor will check your own health following the birth and then weigh and check the baby.

At eight weeks, your child should commence a series of monthly immunisations over the next 3 months and you should make an appointment with the practice nurse. If you are concerned about any of the immunisations, please contact the surgery to discuss these. Further immunisations will be carried out at around 12 months and 13 months, also by the nurse.

At about three and a half, your child should receive an invitation to have a pre-school check and boosters. You should make a double appointment with the doctor who will carry out a health check (height, weight, listen to their heart etc) and then give the booster injections.

Please remember to bring your baby book that you were given when your child was born to all of these appointments. In the Colchester area, these books are either red or yellow. The immunisations will be recorded in this book for your convenience.

After your child starts school, the responsibility for the routine administration of immunisation schedule moves to the school nurses and the remaining injections will be administered at the school attended by your child. These injections are not always routinely given at private schools and you should check with the school secretary about arrangements for immunisations.

Childhood Immunisations

When to Immunise	Diseases Protected Against	Vaccine Given
2 months old	– Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (whooping cough), Polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) – Pneumococcal infection & Rotavirus	– DTaP/IPV/Hib Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) – Rotarix
3 months old	– Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) – Meningitis C & Rotavirus	– DTaP/IPV/Hib MenC – Rotarix
4 months old	– Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) – Pneumococcal infection	DTaP/IPV/Hib MenC PCV
Around 12 months	– Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) – Meningitis C	– Hib MenC
Around 13 months	– Measles, mumps and rubella – Pneumococcal infection	– MMR PCV
Three years and 4 months	– Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis and Polio – Measles, Mumps and Rubella	– DTaP/IPV or dTaP/IPV MMR
Girls aged 12 to 13 years	– Cervical cancer caused by Human Papillomavirus, types 16 and 18	– HPV
13 to 18 years	– Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio	– Td/IPV