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Vaccination appointment tips

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Booking a childhood vaccination appointment

Parents and carers of children 0-6 years old will be notified by CHIS that their child is eligible to book a vaccination appointment with their GP or attend a clinic.

Parents and carers then contact their GP practice to book their own appointment. 

Child Health Information Service cannot book or change an appointment for you. You can call us if you have difficulty getting an appointment.

Parents and carers of children 0-6 years old will be invited by CHIS to book a vaccination appointment with their GP or attend a clinic.

Vaccination appointment tips

  • If you have questions, contact a healthcare professional such as a practice nurse, GP, school nurse or pharmacist. 
  • Let the practice know if someone other than a parent or carer is taking your child for vaccination.
  • You can also find answers to frequently asked questions here FAQs about vaccines | Vaccine Knowledge Project (ox.ac.uk)
  • Take your child’s RedBook, if you have one. This is also called ‘Personal Child Health Record’. 
  • Take your child’s newborn bloodspot screening results letter if the appointment is for the first vaccination. 
  • Babies under 12 months have vaccinations in the thigh, dress them in clothes that are easy to remove.
  • Toddlers have vaccinations in the arm, dress them in short, loose sleeves. 
  • If you do not have any liquid paracetamol for infants at home you might want to get some before for your first vaccination visit. It is widely available from pharmacies and supermarkets. Further information can be found in a leaflet 'What to expect after vaccinations' .

During the appointment

  • The nurse will answer any questions you have and give you advice on the vaccinations your child needs. 
  • This might be different to the vaccinations in the invite, but this will be explained to you. 
  • Hold your child on your lap during the vaccination – if you would prefer for another nurse or member of staff to hold them for you, discuss this with the nurse. 

After the appointment

Your child may be a little upset and cry after vaccination but they should feel better when cuddled or fed. Most babies don’t have any other reaction.

Reactions at the site of the injection

Some babies have some swelling, redness or a small hard lump where the injection was given and it may be sore to touch. This usually only lasts two to three days and doesn’t need any treatment.

How to treat a high temperature after vaccination

If your child develops a high temperature after vaccination, follow these tips from the NHS website: 

  • make sure they're not wearing too many layers of clothes or blankets
  • give them plenty to drink
  • give them liquid paracetamol or ibuprofen for children to bring their temperature down

It's recommended that you give your baby liquid paracetamol after the MenB vaccine to reduce the risk of a high temperature. This vaccine is given at 8 weeks, 16 weeks and 1 year old.

Make sure you follow the instructions that come with the medicine. If you're unsure, ask a pharmacist for advice.