Baby and child

In Scotland, babies and children are offered free routine vaccinations from 8 weeks old as part of the childhood immunisation programme.

A number of significant changes to the routine childhood vaccination schedule and to the selective hepatitis B (HepB) programme were brought in from 1 July 2025 and 1 January 2026, including the introduction of a new routine vaccination appointment at 18 months of age.

These changes were required as a result of the discontinuation of the manufacture of Menitorix (Hib/MenC) vaccine and the introduction of the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine into the routine schedule.

A summary of the changes includes:

• • Discontinuation of Menitorix (Hib/MenC) vaccine.
  • MenB vaccine schedule changed from 8 and 16 weeks to 8 and 12 weeks.
  • PCV13 vaccine moved from 12 weeks to 16 weeks.
  • Introduction of measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine
  • Introduction of a new 18 month appointment
  • Removal of the single hepatitis B (HepB) vaccine dose given at 1 year of age from the selective neonatal HepB schedule.

You can read more about these changes to the vaccination schedule.

Vaccinations for babies

From 01 January 2026, the new routine childhood immunisation schedule will be as follows.

The vaccines offered to babies at 8 weeks are:

• 6-in-1 vaccine
• MenB vaccine
• Rotavirus vaccine

The vaccines offered to babies at 12 weeks  are:

• 6-in-1 vaccine
• Rotavirus vaccine
• MenB vaccine

The vaccines offered to babies at 16 weeks are:

• 6-in-1 vaccine
• Pneumococcal vaccine

The vaccines offered to babies at 12 to 13 months (within a month of their first birthday):

• MenB vaccine
• MMRV vaccine
• Pneumococcal vaccine

From 1 January 2026, a new routine appointment will be offered to all children in Scotland when they turn 18 months.

Children born on or after 1 July 2024 will be offered the following vaccines at 18 months:

• 6-in-1 vaccine
• MMRV vaccine

You can find more information about when to immunise babies is on NHS inform.

Vaccinations for children

The vaccine offered annually to children from 2 years old to the end of secondary school is:

• Child flu vaccine

The vaccines offered to children from 3 years and 4 months are:

• 4-in-1 vaccine

Children born between 01 September 2022 and  30 June 2024 will remain on the current schedule and will be offered a dose of MMRV at 3 years 4 months.

Resources

Resources are available for health professionals and the third sector.

This includes:

• Flu vaccine resources 
• childhood immunisation resources

Healthcare staff can find education resources about immunisations on TURAS.