Answer

Usually, parents will be contacted by their local GP surgery when their child is due to receive a routine vaccination.

From 1 January 2025, the routine vaccinations for children under one years old in the UK include:

• Eight weeks: Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and hepatitis B / Meningococcal group B (MenB) / Rotavirus gastroenteritis
• 12 weeks: Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib and hepatitis B / Pneumococcal (13 serotypes) / Rotavirus
• 16 weeks: Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib and hepatitis B / MenB.

The most common side effects following infant vaccinations are soreness around the injection site(s) for a few days, and sometimes a fever. However, the Green Book – which provides information for public health professionals involved in immunisations – advises against giving simple analgesics prophylactically with the aim of trying to prevent these effects because there is evidence that this practice can lower the antibody response.

However, the meningitis B (MenB) vaccine – one of the three jabs given at eight weeks of age as part of the routine NHS immunisation schedule – is strongly associated with the development of a fever, so it is recommended that babies are given a dose of liquid paracetamol as soon as possible after vaccination, followed by a two more doses at four to six hourly intervals.