Routine UK immunisation schedule

It’s all change for the UK immunisation schedule this year. If, like me, you’re feeling a little in the dark, then you may find this summary helpful.

Age	Diseases Vaccine given	Site	Change
2m	Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio & H.influenzae B Pediacel: DTaP/IPV/Hib	Thigh	NEW! Introduction of rotavirus
	Pneumococcal Prevenar 13: PCV	Thigh
	Rotavirus Rotarix	ORAL
3m	Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio & H.influenzae B Pediacel: DTaP/IPV/Hib	Thigh	NEW! Introduction of rotavirus
	Meningitis C Menjugate or NeisVac-C: MenC	Thigh
	Rotavirus Rotarix	ORAL
4m	Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio & H.influenzae B Pediacel: DTaP/IPV/Hib	Thigh	STOPPPED! 4m Men C stopped
	Pneumococcal Prevenar 13: PCV	Thigh
12-13m	H.influenzae B and Meningitis C Menitorix: Hib/MenC	Thigh/ upper arm
	Pneumococcal Prevenar 13: PCV	Thigh/ upper arm
	Measles mumps and rubella Priorix or VaxPRO: MMR	Thigh/ upper arm
2 & 3 year olds	Influenza Fluenz: Influenza	NASAL	NEW! Annually
3y 4m	Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio Repevax: dTaP/IPV or Infanrix-IPV: DTaP/IPV	Upper arm
	Measles mumps and rubella Priorix or VaxPRO: MMR	Upper arm
Girls 12-13y	HPV 16 & 18 (common cervical cancer strains) and 6 & 11 (genital wart strains) Gardasil: HPV (3 doses: 0m, 1–2m & 5m after 2nd dose)	Upper arm
14y (via schools)	Tetanus, diphtheria and polio Revaxis: Td/IPV	Upper arm	NEW! Booster dose of Men C
	Meningitis C Meningitec/Menjugate/NeisVac-C: Men C	Upper arm
65y	Pneumococcal disease Pneumovax II: PPV pneumococcal polysaccharide	Upper arm
65y and over	Influenza Annual flu jab	Upper arm
70y	Shingles Zostavax	SUBCUT Upper arm	NEW! Introduction of shingles vaccine

What are the key changes and reasons for the change?

• Rotavirus immunisation has been introduced at 2m and 3m age. Rotavirus is a common cause of severe infantile diarrhoeal illness and affects 140,000 children under 5 annually in the UK. Mortality is low here but morbidity can be significant with 10% (14,000) requiring hospitalisation. Vaccination should reduce hospitalisation rates by 70%.
• The Meningitis C schedule has changed with a single vaccine being given in infancy (at 3m), the 12–13m dose continues, but a new meningitis C booster will be offered at 14y. UK-based studies have shown that a single immunisation in early childhood offers good protection for one year, so the 4m booster is being dropped. The booster at 12-13m offers good protection in early childhood but this usually wanes by teenage years, hence the introducing a booster dose then.
• Influenza will be offered to all healthy children aged 2-17y, starting with 2y and 3y age group. This is to reduce disease burden in children and indirectly in at risk groups and young babies.
• Shingles vaccination will be offered to those aged 70y (with a catch-up programme for 79y olds this year). In England and Wales 30,000 people get shingles each year. Around 0.1% affected over 70y die during an infection (although possibly of a co-morbidity rather than shingles itself). The vaccine is not offered to those aged 80 or over because its effectiveness declines with age.

The GP Update team run one-day courses, bringing GPs up to date with all the latest evidence and guidelines. For further information about GP Update visit www.gp-update.co.uk.