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Vaccinations for babies, children and young people

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Vaccinations available for babies, pre-school children and young people from 11 years.

Important: December 2025 updates

Flu vaccination

See drop-in clinic dates for child flu vaccination.

Routine vaccinations

If your child is due a vaccination as part of their routine immunisation schedule, and you haven't already received a letter, please call us to book a convenient appointment. Letters have been issued but postal deliveries may be taking longer than usual over the festive season.

Child flu vaccine

Influenza (flu) is an infectious respiratory virus. Symptoms may include fever, cough, headache and tiredness.

Flu can be serious, even for healthy young people.

NHS Scotland recommends all eligible children should get the flu vaccine to help protect them from influenza (flu). The vaccine is given as a painless nasal spray.

see more information about child flu vaccinations
given as a painless nasal spray

For young people from 11 years

Tetanus, diphtheria, polio, meningitis 

Measles, mumps, rubella, HPV

For children aged 3 years and 4 months

  • 4-in-1 - also known as DTaP/IPV, protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) and polio
  • MMR - protects against measles, mumps and rubella

For babies

  • 6-in-1 - also known as DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB, protects against six infections
  • meningitis B (MenB) - protects against meningitis and septicaemia
  • rotavirus - protects against rotavirus
  • pneumococcal - protects against illnesses and conditions caused by pneumococcal bacteria
  • Hib/MenC - protects against two of the causes of meningitis and septicaemia

Questions and answers about child vaccinations

My children are different ages - will they be on different vaccination schedules?

Your children might be on different vaccination schedules, as the schedule children follow is dependent on their date of birth. When changes to vaccination programmes happen, they must be rolled out on a phased basis to ensure NHS immunisation teams are able to deliver the vaccines effectively alongside other programmes.

Changes to programmes are based on the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). These decisions are based on several factors, including the risk of the disease and the effectiveness of the vaccine.

If I delay my child’s vaccines, will they change schedules?

The schedule your child follows is dependent on their date of birth, not when they attend for vaccination. Do not delay getting your child vaccinated - they will not change schedules.

It's important that vaccines are given on time, to make sure your child has the best protection possible. Delaying or missing vaccine doses can put your child at risk of serious diseases. Getting vaccines when they are due is the best way to protect your child.

Important: Help by phone or email

Use these contacts for questions about vaccination clinics, including if you:

  • have been asked to book an appointment 
  • need to rearrange an appointment 
  • need to cancel an appointment (please let us know so we can offer a place to someone else)

When leaving a message by phone or email, please include your name and address (including postcode). One of the team will get back to you as soon as possible. Leave one message only as this will help the team to get back to everyone quickly.

Call or email our local Service Delivery Centre

 

phone 0800 032 0339

Available:

  • Monday: 9:15am to 5:00pm
  • Tuesday: 9:00am to 5:00pm
  • Wednesday: 9:30am to 5:00pm
  • Thursday: 9:00am to 5:00pm
  • Friday: 9:00am to 5:00pm

You can leave a voicemail outside these hours with details. 

email nhsh.vaccinationenquiries@nhs.scot

Important: Immunisation at NHS inform

NHS Inform Logo

See more information at NHS inform about immunisation, including advice on how to help protect against serious, vaccine-preventable diseases. You'll also find schedule information as to when immunisations are offered, such as during pregnancy, infancy, adolescence and other times throughout your life, and where they'll be given.

NHS Scotland provides a number of vaccinations for people at different stages in their life. Find out about these vaccines, and the diseases they protect against.

Immunisation and vaccines

Last updated: 18 December 2025

Next review date: 29 December 2025

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NHS Highland
Assynt House
Beechwood Park
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