What is the Immunisation Schedule?

When you’re bringing up a new child, you’ll encounter the UK immunisation schedule, but what is it and is it compulsory?

 The UK immunisation schedule is a vaccination schedule including timings and doses.  It’s an important roadmap for keeping your child safe from many of the infections and diseases they may encounter.

At Starlight Paediatrics, we always recommend following the UK immunisation schedule, but understand there may need to be room for flexibility. We always respect parents’ wishes to use a modified schedule or follow another schedule for their country of origin.

In most cases, countries vaccinate against the same group of childhood infections, but there are differences in how frequently particular vaccines might be given and the timing.

For example, here in the UK we administer vaccines at 2 months, 3 months and 4 months of age whereas most other countries administer them at 2 months, 4 months and 6 months of age.

Missing or delaying a vaccine may potentially impact on the health of your child.  Until the vaccine is administered, your child is not protected against the illness that the vaccine is designed to protect against.

Sometimes the delay in vaccination cannot be helped, for example, if the child is unwell at the time the vaccine is due. However, in such circumstances it’s a good idea to ensure the child receives the vaccine as soon as possible.