Vaccinations for babies and pre-school children

Protecting babies and children from illness through vaccination helps them stay healthy and thrive as they grow.

Vaccination can save your baby’s or child’s life. In the UK, we’ve become used to no longer seeing babies and children suffer from serious diseases such as measles and whooping cough.

That’s because of the vaccinations that were introduced from the 1940s. Before then, these childhood diseases killed many babies and children both here and around the world.

Unfortunately, these diseases are making a comeback as fewer babies and children are being vaccinated. The best way you can protect your baby, along with children up to five years old, is to ensure their vaccinations are up to date. Some vaccines need more than one dose to provide full protection. Only the complete course, given at the recommended ages, offers lasting immunity.

Childhood vaccinations are free. Contact your GP surgery in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent to check your child’s vaccine schedule or to book an appointment.

A handy list of vaccinations is found in the timeline below.

Changes to vaccination schedule
The timing of some vaccinations for babies and children has recently changed. These changes began on 1 July 2025, with some vaccinations being moved to give children better protection. From 1 January 2026, there will also be a new vaccination appointment at 18 months. You can find full details on the NHS vaccinations and when to have them page.

Measles and the MMR vaccination

Measles is on the rise across the UK, including in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. Outbreaks of measles are happening worldwide, largely because fewer babies and children are getting vaccinated.

Measles spreads easily, especially in schools and nurseries, if children are not vaccinated. The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination gives babies and children protection against all three infections.

Your child needs two doses for full protection. If your child has missed having the MMR at the right time, they can still catch up – it’s never too late. The MMR vaccine is also important for pregnant women who have not been vaccinated, as it helps protect both mother and baby.

In the UK, we have two types of MMR vaccine – one does not contain any pork ingredients. Both are equally safe and effective. You can ask for the vaccine with no pork products from your GP, for you or your children. Some GP practices might need to order this vaccine specially, so please let them know when you book if you would like this.

You can find out more about the MMR vaccine, including having it in pregnancy, by watching our animation.

You can read about measles in this leaflet. There’s also a easy read version for anyone who might find it useful.