Major change to childhood immunisation schedule after concern over surge in killer infection
HEALTH chiefs have unveiled "significant" changes to the childhood vaccination schedule following a sharp rise in cases of a deadly infection.
The age at which children get the MMR jab, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella has been brought forward from three years old to just 18 months.
It comes after the UK has seen a huge spike in measles cases over the last few years, while vaccine rates have plummeted.
Globally, rates of the lethal Victorian disease had doubled in the past year alone.
Two doses offer up to 99 per cent protection against measles, mumps and rubella, which can lead to deadly meningitis, hearing loss and problems during pregnancy.
Officals from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) hope the move with "improve uptake and provide earlier protection".
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There are four other changes to the jab programme which will "optimise the overall protection of children in the UK", they added.
One of the main tweaks is the introduction of a new fourth dose of the 6-in-1 vaccine, given at 18 months.
This jab protects against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (also known as pertussis), polio, hepatitis B and Hib - short for haemophilus influenzae type b.
Hib is a type of bacteria that can cause life-threatening infections like meningitis and sepsis.
The change will apply to children turning one on or after July 1, 2025, who will then be offered the extra dose when they hit 18 months.
Health officials say the update is needed because the current Hib/Men C vaccine, called Menitorix, which is offered at the one-year mark, is being discontinued due to supply issues.
Despite this, the 12-month appointment will still include the first dose of the MMR vaccine. along with booster shots for meningitis B and pneumococcal disease.
Other changes involve the second dose of the meningitis B vaccine being given earlier, at 12 weeks instead of 16. This follows a recent study showing that earlier protection could be more effective.
To balance this out and avoid too many jabs at one time, the first dose of the pneumococcal vaccine is being moved from 12 weeks to 16 weeks.
From January 1, 2026, children turning 18 months will be offered their second MMR jab much earlier than before - at 18 months instead of waiting until three years and four months.
However, kids who are already between 18 months and three years four months on January 1, 2026, will stay on the current schedule and get their second MMR dose at the usual time.
Changes to routine childhood immunisation schedule
From July 2025:
- The Hib/Men C vaccine (Menitorix) will no longer be given to children turning one.
- The second meningitis B dose will be moved from 16 weeks to 12 weeks.
- The first pneumococcal (PCV) dose will be moved from 12 weeks to 16 weeks.
- The monovalent hepatitis B dose given at one year (for some babies) will be stopped.
From January 2026:
- A new fourth dose of the 6-in-1 vaccine (DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB) will be introduced at 18 months.
- The second MMR dose will be moved from 3 years 4 months to 18 months.
Latest NHS Digital data shows that in some parts of England, up to three in ten children haven’t had both MMR jabs by the time they turn five.
But the figure needs to be above 90 per cent to stop outbreaks, public health guidance says.
Measles mostly produces flu-like symptoms including a fever, a cough, a cold, and a blotchy rash that is usually not itchy.
But in some cases, it can travel to other parts of the body, like the lungs or brain, and cause serious illness.
Complications include pneumonia, meningitis, blindness, seizures, and death.
It is transmitted through direct contact with airborne droplets that spread when a person breathes, coughs, or sneezes.
It's very unlikely to be measles if you've had both MMR vaccine doses or had measles before.
The MMR vaccine is free to everyone on the NHS and is available from GP surgeries.
'Will save the lives of more very young babies'
Professor Azeem Majeed, from Imperial College London, told GP magazine Pulse: "The changes to the NHS childhood vaccination programme have important implications for general practices and parents of children in England.
"For general practices, the guidance requires significant adjustments to vaccination schedules, increased administrative efforts, and proactive communication to ensure compliance and maintain high uptake.
"For parents, the changes mean adapting to a new 18-month appointment, understanding the revised schedule based on their child’s birth date, and ensuring timely vaccinations."
Dr Julie Yates, from UKHSA, added: "Following a review of the latest evidence, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommended a number of changes to optimise the Childhood Immunisation programme and increase overall protection of children in the UK.
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"With the UK close to seeing an end to Meningitis C circulating, JCVI advised that a vaccination is no longer required for infants due to the excellent population protection provided by the adolescent Meningitis ACWY programme.
"Other changes, such as the bringing forward of the Meningitis B vaccine are based on evidence that will save the lives of more very young babies."
Expert answers MMR questions
TO help deal with parental concerns, Professor Helen Bedford, a specialist in child public health at University College London, tells you all you need to know about the MMR vaccine.
When is the vaccine given?
The MMR vaccine is part of the NHS Routine Childhood Immunisation Programme.
It’s typically given via a single shot into the muscle of the thigh or the upper arm.
The first dose is offered to children at the age of one (babies younger than this may have some protection from antibodies passed on from their mother, which start to wear off at about 12 months.)
The second dose is then offered to children aged three years and four months before they start school (soon to be changed to 18 months).
To check to see if you or your child have had the recommended two doses of MMR, you can look at their/your Personal Child Health Record, also known as the red book.
If you can’t find the red book, call your GP and ask them for your vaccine records.
You are never too old to catch up with your MMR vaccine.
If you see from your vaccination records that you did not receive two doses as a child, you can book a vaccination appointment.
Is the vaccine safe?
The MMR vaccine is safe and effective at preventing measles, mumps and rubella.
In the UK, we started using the jab in 1988, so we have decades of experience using it.
The jab is made from much-weakened live versions of the three viruses.
This triggers the immune system to produce antibodies that are protective in the face of future exposure.
It takes up to three weeks after having the vaccine to be fully protected.
Like any vaccine, the MMR jab can cause side-effects, which are usually mild and go away very quickly.
This includes rash, high temperature, loss of appetite and a general feeling of being unwell for about two or three days.
There is also a very small chance children can have a severe allergic reaction.
But compared to the complications of measles, there is no contest that vaccination is by far the safest and most effective route to take.
Why was it linked with autism?
In 1998, Andrew Wakefield and his colleagues published a now-discredited paper in medical journal The Lancet.
The paper suggested that the MMR vaccine might be associated with autism and a form of bowel disease.
It led to a sharp decline in vaccination rates.
Even at the time, the research was considered poor.
The Lancet retracted the story in 2010 after Wakefield’s article was found “dishonest” by the General Medical Council.
He was later struck off and subsequently, in 2011, the British Medical Journal declared the story fraudulent.
Does it contain ingredients from pigs?
There are two types of MMR jabs: One with gelatin (animal/pig collagen), and one without it.
For some religious groups, the inclusion of pig products is not acceptable.
Those people should ask for the vaccine without gelatin.