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Important: Routine child immunisation

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.

Vaccines for children - one less thing to worry about (video)

Being a parent is tough. Getting your child vaccinated means one less thing to worry about. Look out for their letters in the post or visit NHS inform to find out more.

Important: Vaccines for children - at NHS inform

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Your child will be offered a range of vaccines at different stages during their childhood. These vaccines help protect them against serious diseases. You may not have heard of all of the diseases because vaccines have made many of them very rare in Scotland.

However, it’s important that children are still vaccinated against these diseases. If children are not vaccinated, these diseases will become more common again.

Many of these diseases can have life-changing consequences. Some can also be life-threatening.

The immunisation schedule has recently changed. This means that some children will be offered vaccines at different times in their lives. When they’ll be offered vaccines will depend on when they were born.

Read more at NHS inform about the vaccines your child will be offered, and the immunisation schedule:

Vaccines for children - at NHS inform

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.

given as a painless nasal spray

Important: Immunisation - from NHS inform

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See 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.

Read more at NHS inform about immunisation

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

Our Service Delivery Centre provides a centralised point of contact for the population of the NHS Highland area, co-ordinating vaccination appointments and associated business services supporting the day-to- day operations of the Vaccinations Service. The Service Delivery Centre can be contacted to:

  • book an appointment 
  • rearrange an appointment 
  • cancel an appointment (please let us know so we can offer a place to someone else)
  • provide assistance with general vaccination enquiries

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.

Please do not send repeated voicemails and emails - we will attend to messages in order. This will help the team to get back to everyone quickly.

Call or email

email nhsh.vaccinationenquiries@nhs.scot

Please use this email address for enquiries whenever possible.

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. The line is closed on public holidays.

Last updated: 26 February 2026

Next review date: 6 April 2026