Healthy Surrey:

Healthy Surrey

Vaccination and immunisation

  • Routine vaccinations are offered free of charge on the NHS to all residents in the UK.
  • Routine vaccinations provide essential protection against potentially life-threatening diseases.
  • If you or your child have missed a vaccination appointment please ring your GP practice to re-book.
  • You do not need to contact your GP regarding vaccinations that are normally delivered through schools, as you will be contacted separately about this by the school-age immunisation team.

Last updated: 29 August 2024

Contents

  1. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) - Vaccination programme introduction
  2. Whooping cough update
  3. Measles update
  4. Why vaccinations are important, safe and how they work
  5. Where to go for vaccinations and what to do about missed vaccination
  6. What vaccinations are routinely available and at what age should they be given?
  7. Further vaccinations

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) - Vaccination programme introduction

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes lots of respiratory illness each winter. While it results in mild symptoms for many, it can be very dangerous for babies and the elderly. Each year 30,000 children under 5 years old and 9,000 over 75 year olds need hospital treatment for RSV in the UK each year.

From 1 September 2024 RSV vaccination will be offered to older adults and to pregnant women to protect their newborn babies.

You can read more about RSV on the NHS website.

Further information can be found at What is RSV and is there a vaccine?

Whooping cough - a national concern

Whooping cough (pertussis) cases remain high across the country. More than 10 000 cases were confirmed in England between January and June 2024 (compared to about 850 in the whole of 2023).

Babies who are too young to start their vaccinations are at greatest risk. Young babies with whooping cough often become very unwell and most will be admitted to hospital. When whooping cough is particularly severe, they can die. Tragically, 9 babies have died this year after developing the disease.

Whooping cough is a bacterial infection of the lungs and airways. It spreads very easily through coughing and sneezing and can cause serious health problems, especially in young babies.

Vaccination is the best defence against whooping cough. Vaccine uptake levels have fallen in recent years amongst pregnant women, babies and young children.

Measles - are you protected?

Measles infections remain a concern in England and there are currently outbreaks and clusters in parts of the country. Measles has the perfect opportunity to take hold in unvaccinated or partially vaccinated communities and cause outbreaks in settings such as schools and universities, especially when the new school year begins from September onwards, when young people will be in close contact regularly.

Design - protect your child, be wise and immunise. Give them the power to fight measlesThe Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine is the safest and most effective protection against measles. Two doses of the vaccine give 99% protection against measles.

It's never too late to catch up, and people can get the MMR vaccine for free on the NHS whatever their age through their GP. Please check your own and your family's MMR status and get vaccinated if you have not had two doses.

It's especially important to check you've had both doses if you:

  • attend school, college or university
  • are going to travel abroad
  • are planning a pregnancy
  • are a frontline health or social care worker

Measles is a highly infectious disease that can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, meningitis, and on rare occasions, it can be fatal. Further information about Measles and the MMR vaccine can be found on the NHS measles webpage and the NHS MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine webpage.

Why vaccinations are important, safe and how they work

Where to go for vaccinations and what to do about missed vaccinations

What vaccinations are routinely available and at what age should they be given?

A checklist and visual guide of the vaccines that are routinely offered to everyone in the UK free of charge on the NHS and the ages at which they should ideally be given, are available from UK Health Security Agency.

Further vaccinations

Useful links