Travel health advice: British national vaccination schedule

The British national vaccination schedule

This advice is based upon advice from the 'UK Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation' (JCVI). The final decision on whether to receive these vaccines is dependant upon agreement between the patient, parent and the administering doctor or nurse.

At birth

• Tuberculosis (BCG) for those with infected or previously infected family members; all babies living in UK areas where the incidence of TB is 40/100,000 or greater, babies whose parents or grandparents were born in a country with a TB prevalence of 40/100,000 or higher. Immigrants from countries with a high prevalence of tuberculosis and their children and infants.
• Hepatitis B for babies born to mothers who are chronic carriers of hepatitis B virus or to mothers who have had acute hepatitis B during pregnancy plus their close family members.

Approximately at the 2nd, 3rd and 4th month

• Diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, inactivated poliomyelitis and Haemophilus influenzae type b (DTaP/IPV/Hib).
• Meningococcal serogroup C (MenC)

Around 13 months

• Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR).

Between 3 years 4 months - 5 years - before primary school entrance

• Diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis and inactivated poliomyelitis. (dTaP/IPV).
• Measles, mumps, rubella booster (MMR).

Between 10-14 years

• On advice from the JCVI, the BCG programme in schools is being discontinued during 2005 after which time efforts will be focused in the UK on those in high risk categories such as contacts of known cases and immigrants plus their families from countries with a high prevalence of tuberculosis.

Between 13-18 years

• Tetanus, low dose diphtheria and inactivated poliomyelitis boosters (Td/IPV).

Adults

• Tetanus and poliomyelitis boosters 10 yearly only for those at risk of soil contaminated wounds (tetanus), or health care workers (poliomyelitis). Travellers may warrant 10 yearly toxoid boosters when they are going to countries where post-exposure tetanus immunoglobulin will not be available.
• It was decided as an interim measure, during the academic term for 1999-2000, to offer polysaccharide meningococcal vaccine (Serogroups A and C) to students in colleges and universities of higher education and conjugate meningococcal (serogroup C) to those at secondary school. Eventually as the new childhood vaccination schedules become established these 'catch-up' campaigns should become unnecessary.

All ages

• Hepatitis B for those likely to be in close contact with carriers or at occupational risk e.g.. health care workers.
• Influenza for those at risk of serious disease or complications, including travellers in these risk categories going the epidemic areas.
• Pneumococcal for those at risk of serious disease or complications, including travellers in these risk categories going the epidemic areas.

 Summary chart

• DTaP/IPV/Hib (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis,inactivated poliomyelitis, haemophilus influenzae type b)
• MenC (meningococcal serogroup C conjugate vaccine)
• MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
• dTaP/IPV (low dose diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, inactivated poliomyelitis)
• BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin) for tuberculosis
• Td (tetanus, low dose diphtheri, inactivated poliomyelitis)

* At risk groups as detailed above.

The above advice is appropriate for the majority of travellers. If you are at all unsure as to what measures are suitable for you, (eg if you are pregnant, or are suffering from a condition requiring special medication), it is recommended that you talk to your health advisor. This page is produced by the Scottish Centre for infection and Environmental Health.