Taking your baby to have their first vaccinations can be a bit upsetting. Here are some answers to the questions that parents often ask.
Vaccinations are thoroughly tested before being introduced and are continually monitored for adverse reactions. Giving your child any medicine carries a risk of possible side effects, as the patient information enclosed with the medicine explains, though vaccinations are among the safest. The risk is much higher if your child isn’t vaccinated and comes into contact with the disease as they could become very unwell.
The schedule of vaccinations routinely offered to babies and children is regularly looked at by a national panel of experts to make sure it is as effective and safe as possible. New vaccinations are introduced or the timings of vaccinations may change sometimes, so what your baby is offered may be different to what an older child had at the same age.
Babies’ immune systems cope very well with several vaccinations at once. If a baby had 11 vaccines all at the same time, they would actually only use 0.1% of their immune system to respond to them! Remember, your baby is exposed to lots of germs every day.
This short NHS animation explains more.
Following changes to the childhood immunisation schedule, as of July 2025 your baby will be vaccinated at the following times:
At 8 weeks
Your baby will have immunisations against:
These will be given as 2 injections (DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB and MenB) and drops into the mouth (rotavirus).
At 12 weeks
Your baby will have immunisations against:
These will be given as 2 injections (DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB and MenB) and drops into the mouth (rotavirus).
At 16 weeks
Your baby will have immunisations against:
These will be given as 2 injections (DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB and PCV).
At 1 year
Your baby will be immunised against:
These will be given as 3 injections (PCV, MMR and MenB).
For more information on the new vaccination schedule, click here.
If your baby has a fever on the day of the appointment, your GP or practice nurse may advise you to delay the vaccination for a few days.
If your child has had a severe allergic reaction to a previous vaccination or to one of the ingredients, then they shouldn’t have a further dose. You should also talk to your GP if you have a family history of allergies, eczema or febrile convulsions.
If your child has a serious illness or is taking medication that is affecting their immune system, there are some vaccinations they shouldn’t have. These include MMR and BCG. Again, discuss the best option with your GP.
The MMR vaccine provides protection against three illnesses: measles, mumps and rubella (German measles). All of these conditions can have very serious complications, and can prove fatal. Lots has been written in the press about claims that the MMR jab is linked to autism or bowel disease. The research on which this is based has now been discredited, and no other studies have found a link.
If you’re still worried, watch these films in which parents explore the risks and benefits of MMR vaccination.
Some people are worried about the ingredients (particularly pork gelatine) in some vaccinations being unsuitable for particular religious groups. You can discuss alternative vaccines with your GP. Whether or not you, as parents, decide to have your child vaccinated is entirely up to you. The important thing is that you can make informed choices. These NHS leaflets provide more detailed guidance:
It’s completely safe to take your baby swimming at an indoor British pool at any time before and after their vaccinations, so you don’t need to worry.
Useful links
Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust runs a confidential secure text messaging service for parents of children aged 0-19 years called Chat Health. The service operates Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm, excluding bank holidays. All texts will be responded to by a public health nurse (health visitor/school nurse) within 24 hours. Outside of the service working hours, you’ll receive a message back to inform you that your text will be responded to once the line reopens.
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Leicester City:
text
07520 615381 -
Leicestershire & Rutland:
text
07520 615382
Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust runs the Healthy Together Helpline for parents and carers in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. The Helpline’s qualified health and administrative professionals offer easy to access, safe and free advice, support and signposting. Calls are answered from 9am – 4.30pm on weekdays, excluding bank holidays. Calls are charged at the same rate as calling a standard landline number.
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Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland:
call 0300 300 3001
Should you require urgent health advice in the meantime, please contact your GP, visit an NHS walk-in centre or call NHS 111. For emergencies, dial 999 or visit A&E.
