What happens at your child’s appointment?

Your health board will send you an appointment for you to bring a child in for their immunisation. Most health boards run special immunisation clinics. If you can’t make the appointment, contact your local NHS immunisation team to rearrange.

All routine childhood NHS vaccinations are free.

What happens at the appointment?

The healthcare professional will explain the immunisation process to you, and answer any questions you have.

What if I miss the appointment?

If you miss the appointment or have to delay the immunisation, make a new appointment. The immunisation schedule can be picked up where it stopped without having to start again.

What if a child is ill on the day of the appointment?

If a child has a minor illness without a fever, such as a cold, they should have their immunisations as normal. If the child you’re bringing is ill with a fever, delay the immunisation until they’ve recovered. 

The health professional will explain the immunisation process to you, and answer any questions you have.

If the child you’re bringing has a bleeding disorder or has had a fit not associated with fever, they can receive immunisations but may need additional care. Speak to your GP, practice nurse or health visitor before the child has any immunisation.

Vaccine Safety Net Member

Public Health Scotland is a proud member of the Vaccine Safety Net and partners with NHS inform to provide reliable information on vaccine safety.

The Vaccine Safety Net is a global network of websites, evaluated by the World Health Organization, that provides reliable information on vaccine safety.

More about the Vaccine Safety Net

Last updated:
04 March 2024

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