Continued use of Hib/MenC (Menitorix) as part of phase 1 changes to the child imms schedule

Dear GP practice,

There have been queries regarding the continued use of Hib/MenC (Menitorix) as part of the Phase 1 changes to the Childhood Imms Schedule. We can confirm current guidance as part of the PHASE 1 changes to the National Child Immunisation Schedule is as follows:

• Children who turned 12 months of age on or before 30 June 2025 will remain eligible for Menitorix and should continue to be offered this vaccine until central stock levels are depleted, after which any child presenting for the vaccine should be offered a hexavalent (6 in 1) vaccine (to provide the 12-month Hib dose element which is still required). Due to the success of the adolescent MenACWY programme in controlling meningococcal C (MenC) disease across the population a dose of MenC-containing vaccine is no longer recommended at 12 months.
• Children who turn 12 months of age on or after 1 July 2025 will not be offered a 12-month Hib/MenC vaccine but instead will receive a routine hexavalent dose at a new 18-month appointment from 1 January 2026 onwards. 

We can confirm that Menitorix stocks are still available to order via IMMFORM; stock is being fully monitored and availability is currently predicted to be in place until January 2026. Practices should vaccinate to the current guidance (bulleted above) as laid out in the Phase 1 Bipartite letter; for additional information, please see Childhood schedule changes from 1 July 2025: information for healthcare practitioners.

The Vaccination of individuals with uncertain or incomplete immunisation – GOV.UK is a useful reference tool that can be used alongside other published health care professional guidance.

It is appropriate to offer the 6 in 1 vaccine if the practice does not have any Menitorix when a child aged 12 months on or before 30 June 2025 attends (as per the Vaccination of individuals with uncertain or incomplete immunisation – GOV.UK) BUT whilst Menitorix is still available to order, practices should ensure that they have sufficient stock available.

Administration of hexavalent vaccine instead of Hib/MenC is not considered a clinical incident. Once Menitorix is no longer available all children will receive only hexavalent vaccine and it is therefore not necessary to recall and revaccinate children who have received a hexavalent vaccine instead of Hib/MenC.

However, in circumstances where children who turned 12 months of age on or before 30 June 2025 have received a 6 in 1 vaccine instead of Menitorix, payment will need to be claimed manually as per locally defined processes. This is because Menitorix remains available to order and children in this cohort remain eligible.

The 6 in 1 SNOMED codes are in place and automated payments for vaccine given at the new 18-month appointment will be initiated from 01 January 2026.

Please contact our team directly at England.londonimms@nhs.net with any queries.

Kind regards

London Immunisation Team

NHS England – London Region