Pre-school

Find vaccination information for children aged 1 to 5 years of age.

From 1 January 2026 further changes have been made to the routine children's immunisations schedule. You don’t need to do anything, your GP practice or health visitor will send you an invitation when your child is due to have any of their routine vaccinations. If you have any questions please speak to your health visitor or GP practice at your next routine appointment .

If you are unsure whether your child has missed any vaccines, please check your online GP record or your child’s red book in the first instance, otherwise contact your GP practice.

Flu vaccine for children

The children’s nasal spray flu vaccine is now available for all children aged 2 – 3 years of age to help protect them against flu during the cold winter months.

Flu is caused by the influenza virus. It can be a very unpleasant illness for children. It can also lead to serious problems, such as bronchitis and pneumonia.

Children can catch and spread flu easily. Vaccinating them also protects others who are vulnerable to flu, such as young babies and older people. Your GP practice will contact you to book your child in for their nasal flu vaccine if they’re eligible, but you don’t need to wait for an invitation, if your child is eligible contact your GP practice.

Click here to find out more about the children’s flu vaccine.

The new Measles, Mumps, Rubella and chickenpox (MMRV) vaccination

The MMRV vaccine was introduced on January 2 2026 it helps protect children against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox (varicella). It’s usually given to children when they are 12 months and 18 months old.

The previous MMR vaccine is still available for older children and adults born on or before 31 December 2019 who were not vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella when they were younger.

Your GP practice or health advisor will be in touch when your child is eligible for their MMRV vaccine. For more information about the MMRV vaccine click here.

Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccination

The MMR vaccine is a safe and effective vaccine, it’s usually administered when children are over 12 months of age. The virus can spread easily between unvaccinated people and can cause very serious illness that is not treatable with medication.

Children eligible for the MMR vaccine:

Child’s age	Vaccine
1 year	MMR (1st dose)
3 years and 4 months	MMR (2nd dose)

Two doses are needed for full protection against measles, preferably by the age of 5 years, but you can have the vaccination at any age (as long as the child is over 12 months old). The measles immunity will then usually last a lifetime.

Where can I get the MMR vaccine in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland:

There are several ways in which you can get your child vaccinated. You can:

Visit one of the mobile vaccination clinics across LLR. Mobile vaccination clinics offer all eligible people the opportunity to get vaccinated without booking an appointment and to walk-in when suitable for them. View a full list of upcoming clinics on our vaccine clinic page.
Alternatively, you can contact your GP practice.

Whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine

Cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, are rising locally. Young children (and babies please see new born page) are at greatest risk from developing whooping cough.

Young children with whooping cough are often very unwell and could require hospital treatment because of their illness. When whooping cough is particularly severe, they could die.

The whooping cough vaccine protects babies and children from getting whooping cough. That’s why it’s important for every child to have all their routine childhood NHS vaccinations.

The whooping cough vaccine is routinely given as part of the:

6-in-1 vaccine – for babies at 8, 12 and 16 weeks
4-in-1 pre-school booster – for children aged 3 years 4 months

Find out more about the whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy

Coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine for children

Covid-19 is a very infectious disease that can cause serious illness for children who have an underlying health condition. If your child has a weakened immune system, they will be offered a Covid-19 vaccination seasonally. Your child’s GP or consultant will let you know if your child needs a seasonal Covid-19 vaccination.

Click here to find out more about the Covid-19 vaccine.