Immunisation is started at 8 weeks of age because small babies are most vulnerable to serious complications of infections. However, small babies’ developing immune and nervous systems may also be susceptible to side effects of the vaccines. It is also extremely unlikely that a baby will contract diseases such as tetanus, polio and diphtheria in the first few months of age.

Babies in the UK currently receive 6 vaccines in 2 injections at 2 months of age; 6 vaccines in 2 injections at 3 months; and 7 vaccines in 3 injections at 4 months.

A 5-in-1 combination vaccine is the cornerstone of the UK immunisation schedule; new combination vaccines are not tested for long-term safety, as it is assumed that side effects will be no more than if the vaccines were given separately.

The NHS schedule involves giving all babies 25 vaccines, in 10 injections, by the age of 15 months. Babies living in certain areas are also offered the BCG vaccine at birth. The full NHS schedule is listed below.

Age	Vaccine	Number of vaccines	Number of jabs
2 months	DTaP/IPV/Hib (5-in-1)
	Pneumococcal (PCV)	6	2
3 months	DTaP/IPV/Hib (5-in-1)
	Men C	6	2
4 months	DTaP/IPV/Hib (5-in-1)
	Pneumococcal (PCV)
	Men C	7	3
12 months	Hib/Men C booster	2	1
13 months	MMR
	Pneumococcal (PCV)	4	2
Total by 13 months		25	10
40 months	DTaP/IPV
or later	MMR	7	2
Total by 4 years		32	12

D=diphtheria
T=tetanus
aP= acellular pertussis (whooping cough)
IPV=inactivated polio vaccine
Hib=Haemophilus influenzae type B
PCV=pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
Men C= meningococcus group C
MMR=measles, mumps and rubella (German measles)

Over recent years, vaccines have been added to the schedule at a faster rate than ever before. In 1990, a total of 15 vaccines were given before 15 months, compared to the 25 that are given today. The UK has the most complex immunisation schedule in the world, with babies given a different combination of vaccines at every attendance.

The alternative

Vaccinations do not have to be given in line with the current UK immunisation schedule. Until 1990, babies were vaccinated at 3, 5 and 9 months instead of 2, 3 and 4 months, as they are now.

Every European country has its own schedule, and timings vary greatly; many countries give vaccines at 2, 4 and 6 months, and the 3, 5 and 12-month schedule is used in several countries. Vaccines can be given at different times; there is no absolute right – or wrong.

One disadvantage of an imposed national schedule is that it does not take into account the different needs of individual children. In the NHS, premature babies are vaccinated at the same time irrespective of how premature they are, even though some will weigh even less than the average baby at birth. This is despite evidence that giving vaccines to very premature babies can be dangerous, causing them to stop breathing. Another thing for parents to consider is that research has suggested that delaying the start of vaccinating until 5 months may reduce the risk of a child developing asthma by over half.

At BabyJabs we believe that parents have the right to adjust the immunisation schedule to suit the individual needs of their child, taking into account the child’s medical history and the family’s medical history.