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 1 January 2026, the new routine childhood immunisation schedule is 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 was offered to all children in Scotland when they turn 18 months.

Children born on or after 1 July 2024 are 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 1 September 2022 and 30 June 2024 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.