The baby vaccination schedule: what to expect

Vaccines are among the most effective medical interventions in history. Before widespread childhood immunisation, diseases like measles, diphtheria, and polio killed or permanently disabled hundreds of thousands of children every year. The WHO estimates that vaccines prevent 3.5–5 million deaths globally every year.¹

This article presents the standard vaccination schedules used in the UK and the US, covers what to expect in the hours and days after vaccines, and explains which reactions require medical attention.

If you have questions about vaccines for your specific child — particularly if your baby has a health condition or allergies — your GP, health visitor, or paediatrician is the right person to speak to. They know your child's medical history.

UK NHS vaccination schedule

The NHS offers all of these vaccines free of charge. Invitations are sent automatically.²

6-in-1 = diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), hepatitis B. MMR = measles, mumps, rubella. PCV = pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. MenB / MenC = meningococcal B and C.

US CDC/AAP vaccination schedule

The CDC and AAP publish a combined recommended schedule, updated annually.³⁴

The US schedule starts at birth with hepatitis B; the UK begins at 8 weeks. The US schedule includes varicella (chickenpox) and hepatitis A as routine vaccines; the UK does not routinely offer these. The US gives annual flu vaccine from 6 months of age; the UK begins annual flu at 2 years.

Normal reactions after vaccines

Most reactions to vaccines are mild, indicate the immune system is responding, and resolve within 1–3 days.

Common (expected):

• Soreness, redness, or swelling at the injection site — lasts 1–2 days. Applying a cool, damp cloth to the site can help. Do not rub the injection site.
• Mild fever (under 38.5°C/101.3°F) — common after most vaccines, especially the 8-week MenB vaccine in the UK. Paracetamol at the appropriate infant dose can help.²
• Fussiness and crying — normal for several hours after vaccines; may continue into the next day.
• Drowsiness or sleeping more than usual — normal; let them rest.
• Reduced appetite — may last up to 24 hours.
• Mild rash 7–10 days after MMR — a faint, blotchy rash is a normal immune response to the measles component and is not contagious. Resolves on its own.

What is NOT a normal reaction

These reactions are rare but require medical attention:

• High fever (38.5°C/101.3°F or above in babies under 3 months; 39°C/102.2°F or above in older infants) — call your GP or 111/urgent care same day²
• Fever lasting more than 3 days — contact your GP
• High-pitched, unusual, inconsolable screaming lasting more than 3 hours after the vaccine
• Significant swelling of the whole limb where the injection was given
• The baby is unusually limp or unresponsive

Anaphylaxis — a severe allergic reaction — is extremely rare (estimated at 1–2 per million doses) but can occur within 15–30 minutes of vaccination.³ This is why vaccine appointments typically ask you to stay for 15–30 minutes afterward. Signs of anaphylaxis include:

• Difficulty breathing, wheezing
• Swelling of the face, lips, or throat
• Sudden pallor or limpness
• Loss of consciousness

If you observe any signs of anaphylaxis: call 999 (UK) / 911 (US) immediately.

How to comfort your baby after vaccines

• Breastfeed immediately before or after vaccines if you breastfeed — studies show breastfeeding reduces pain response during injections.⁴
• Skin-to-skin contact and holding your baby upright after the injection helps.
• Offer feeds when you're home; babies often comfort-feed more after vaccines.
• Cool cloth on injection sites for soreness.
• Appropriate-dose infant paracetamol for fever and discomfort — follow package instructions or your health visitor's guidance for exact doses. Never give aspirin to babies or children.

On the evidence for vaccines

Vaccines are among the most studied medical interventions that exist. The safety monitoring systems for vaccines (VAERS in the US, Yellow Card in the UK) are ongoing and continuous. The evidence that routine childhood vaccines prevent serious disease and death is consistent and overwhelming.¹

If you have questions or concerns about any vaccine, the best source of individualised information is your GP, health visitor, or paediatrician — not online forums or social media. They can discuss your baby's specific circumstances.

← Back to the complete guide: Baby health basics

Also in this cluster: Baby fever: when to worry · When to call the doctor

Sources

1. NHS. "NHS Vaccination Schedule." NHS, 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/nhs-vaccination-schedule/
2. CDC. "Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule for Ages 18 Years or Younger, United States, 2024." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/
3. American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) / HealthyChildren.org. "Vaccine Safety: The Facts." HealthyChildren.org, 2023. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/immunizations/Pages/Vaccine-Safety-The-Facts.aspx
4. World Health Organization. "Immunization Coverage." WHO Fact Sheet, 2023. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/immunization-coverage