6 In 1 Vaccine

What the 6-in-1 vaccine is for

The 6-in-1 vaccine protects children against 6 serious illnesses:

When children should have the 6-in-1 vaccine

Children are given 4 doses of the 6-in-1 vaccine as part of the NHS vaccination schedule.

They are given the vaccine when they are:

8 weeks old
12 weeks old
16 weeks old
18 months old (if they were born on or after 1 July 2024)

If your child has missed their 6-in-1 vaccinations, contact their GP surgery. It's best to have them on time, but they can still have the 6-in-1 vaccine up to the age of 10.

Children who cannot have the 6-in-1 vaccine

Most children can have the 6-in-1 vaccine.

They only cannot have the vaccine if:

they've had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of the vaccine
they've had a serious allergic reaction to anything in the vaccine (including neomycin, polymyxin, formaldehyde or polysorbate 80)

If your child has a condition that affects their brain, such as epilepsy, speak to a doctor, nurse or health visitor before they have the vaccine.

Getting vaccinated if your child is unwell

If your child has a high temperature, wait until they're feeling better before having the vaccine.

If they are unwell but do not have a high temperature, check with a doctor, nurse or health visitor if they can still have the vaccine.

6-in-1 vaccine ingredients

There is 1 type of 6-in-1 vaccine given in the UK. You can check the ingredients in the patient leaflet:

Infanrix hexa 6-in-1 vaccine patient leaflet (Electronic Medicines Compendium website; PDF only, 167kb)

How to get the 6-in-1 vaccine

Your GP surgery will usually contact you about your child's 6-in-1 vaccinations. This will usually be by letter, text, phone call or email.

It's best to have the vaccinations on time, but your child can still have the 6-in-1 vaccine up to the age of 10.

Speak to your GP surgery if:

you have not been contacted to get your child's 6-in-1 vaccinations
your child has missed their 6-in-1 vaccinations, or you're not sure if they've had all 4 doses of the vaccine
your child is unwell and is due to have the vaccine - they may need to wait until they're feeling better before having the vaccine
you need to change a vaccination appointment

Your GP surgery can book or rearrange an appointment.

Appointment advice for parents

Side effects of the 6-in-1 vaccine

Like all medicines, the 6-in-1 vaccine can cause side effects, but not all children get them.

Common side effects

Common side effects of the 6-in-1 vaccine include:

swelling or pain where the injection was given
a high temperature
feeling tired
loss of appetite
being sick or diarrhoea
irritability

You can give children children's paracetamol to ease any symptoms.

Check the packaging or leaflet to make sure the medicine is suitable for your child, or speak to a pharmacist or doctor if you're not sure.

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or call 111 if your child:

is under 3 months old and has a temperature of 38C or higher, or you think they have a high temperature
is 3 to 6 months old and has a temperature of 39C or higher, or you think they have a high temperature
is unwell and you're worried about them

Allergic reactions

More serious side effects such as a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) are very rare and usually happen within minutes.

The person who vaccinates your child will be trained to deal with allergic reactions and treat them immediately.

More about vaccine safety

Find out more about why vaccinations are important and the safest way to protect yourself

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