THERE are a range of lifesaving vaccines available on the NHS — but it can be hard to keep track of which ones you need at each stage of your life.
Parents are now being warned that “alarmingly” low uptake of a key jab is leaving young people at increased risk of cancer.
If you or your child has missed one of the doses below, contact your GP to catch up[/caption]
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are dished out to teens in Year 8 and 9 and offer protection against high-risk strains of the virus linked to cervical cancer.
But certain parts of the country – like London – are seeing low HPV vaccination rates, leaving young women in particular more vulnerable to the disease.
For example, vaccination levels for Year 10 girls in Lambeth, South London, were as low 38.7 per cent. For boys in the area, this fell further to 28.2 per cent.
According to figures from Cancer Research UK, cervical cancer rates are already 65 per cent higher in England’s most deprived areas compared with the least.
Dr Sharif Ismail, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: “The HPV vaccine, now just a single dose offered in schools, is one of the most powerful tools we have for cancer prevention.
“Every vaccination represents a young person with better protection against the devastating impact of HPV-related cancers and we must do more to ensure that no teenage girl or boy, young woman or man is denied that protection no matter where they live.
“Although we have seen some increase in the number of young people being vaccinated, uptake is still well below pre-Covid pandemic levels
“Over a quarter of young people – many thousands – are missing out on this potentially life-saving vaccine.”
From HPV, to the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) jab and the flu vaccine, read on for the lifesaving vaccines you get for free on the NHS at every age.
If you or your child has missed one of the doses below, contact your GP to catch up.
Babies
Your baby should receive their first dose of three vaccines at eight months: the 6-in-1, rotavirus and MenB jabs.
The 6-in-1 helps protect against diphtheria, hepatitis B, haemophilus influenza type b (Hib), polio, tetanus and whooping cough.
The MenB vaccine helps protect against meningococcal group B bacteria, which are responsible for about nine in every 10 meningococcal infections in young children.
At 12 weeks, your baby should have their second doses of the 6-in-1 and rotavirus jab, as well as their first dose of the pneumococcal vaccine.
This helps protect against deadly meningitis, sepsis and pneumonia.
At 16 weeks, they should have their third dose of the 6-in-1 and a second dose of the MenB vaccine.
Toddlers, children and teens
Your child should receive their first doses of the MMR and Hib/MenC vaccines when they’re one.
The latter helps protect against life threatening haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and the type of meningitis caused by group C bacteria infections.
Everything you need to know about the HPV vaccine
The HPV vaccine protects against some of the risky HPV types that can lead to genital warts and cancer.
Gardasil has been the HPV vaccine used in the NHS vaccination programme since 2012. It is protective against nine types of HPV.
For example it is effective against types 16 and 18 which cause around 80 per cent of cervical cancers in the UK.
That’s why it is important for people who have a cervix to still get a smear test when invited by the NHS.
Cervical cancer takes the lives of 854 people a year currently – but this is expected to continue decreasing thanks to the vaccine.
There are around 3,200 new cases of the devastating cancer a year, with peak incidence in women in their early 30s.
But the HPV vaccine doesn’t just prevent cervical cancer – it stops some anal, genital (vaginal and penile), mouth and throat (head and neck) cancers.
These affect both men and women.
Who should take it?
The first dose of the HPV vaccine is routinely offered to girls and boys aged 12 and 13 in school Year 8.
The second dose is offered 6 to 24 months after the 1st dose.
If a school child misses their doses, you can speak to the school jab team or GP surgery to book as soon as possible.
Anyone who missed their jab can get it up to their 25th birthday.
But people who have the first dose of the HPV vaccine at 15 years of age or above will need to have three doses of the vaccine because they do not respond as well to two doses as younger people do.
The HPV vaccine used to only be given to girls who are at risk of cervical cancer when they are older.
But in 2018, it was announced that boys – who can get HPV-related cancers of the head, nech, anal and genitals – would also be given a jab.
Girls indirectly protect boys against HPV related cancers and genital warts because girls will not pass HPV on to them.
But the programme was extended to further eliminate risk of the virus spreading in the future.
Men who have sex with men (gay and bisexual) do not benefit from this indirect protection, and so are also able to get the HPV vaccine up to the age of 45.
Some transgender people can also get the vaccine.
Those assigned female at birth would have gotten one as a child. But those assigned male at birth could get a jab if they transition to female and have sex with men.
They should also get their second pneumococcal vaccine and third MenB vaccine at this age.
From the age of two to 15, they are also eligible for a yearly flu vaccine.
They should receive their second MMR dose at the age of three and four months, as well as their 4-in-1 pre-school booster vaccine.
This helps protect against diphtheria, polio, tetanus and whooping cough.
Girls and boys should get their HPV vaccine at the age of 12 to 13, which helps reduce the risk of cervical, mouth, anal and penile cancer.
The HPV jab delivers a significantly stronger immune response if given before the age of 16, but people will still get strong protection from it if they get vaccinated through catch-up programs until the age of 25.
At 14, kids are eligible for the 3-in-1 teenage booster vaccine, which boosts protection against tetanus, diphtheria and polio.
They should also get their MenACWY jab against deadly meningitis and septicaemia.
Adults
When you turn 65, you are eligible for a yearly flu vaccine, as well as the pneumococcal vaccine.
If you turned 65 on or after September 1, 2023, you will also be eligible for the shingles vaccine, which helps protect against the painful condition.
You are eligible for it from the age of 70 to 79 if you turned 65 before that date.
People aged 70 to 75 can get the RSV vaccine. This protects respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common virus that can make babies and older adults seriously ill.
Most people will only get a cough or cold from it but it can cause serious illnesses such as pneumonia or bronchiolitis.
Over the age of 75, you can also get a Covid-19 jab on the NHS for free. This is usually dished out in the spring and winter.
Pregnant women
Pregnant women are eligible for the flu vaccine during flu seasons and a whooping cough jab from being 16 weeks into their pregnancy.
It’s also recommended that they get the RSV jab from 28 weeks onwards, to help protect their baby against the virus.
What vaccines should you or your child have at each age?
Eight weeks
- 6-in-1 vaccine
- Rotavirus vaccine
- MenB vaccine
12 weeks
- 6-in-1 vaccine (2nd dose)
- Pneumococcal vaccine
- Rotavirus vaccine (2nd dose)
16 weeks
- 6-in-1 vaccine (3rd dose)
- MenB vaccine (2nd dose)
One year
- Hib/MenC vaccine (1st dose)
- MMR vaccine (1st dose)
- Pneumococcal vaccine (2nd dose)
- MenB vaccine (3rd dose)
Two to 15 years
- Children’s flu vaccine (every year until children finish Year 11 of secondary school)
Three years and four months
- MMR vaccine (2nd dose)
- 4-in-1 pre-school booster vaccine
12 to 13 years
- HPV vaccine
14 years
- 3-in-1 teenage booster vaccine
- MenACWY vaccine
65 years
- Flu vaccine (given every year after turning 65)
- Pneumococcal vaccine
- Shingles vaccine (if you turned 65 on or after 1 September 2023)
70 to 79 years
- Shingles vaccine
Source: The NHS
