Screening and immunisation are both ways of protecting your health, and the health of those around you. They are some of the most effective preventative measures you can take to enjoy better health, and to reduce the strain on the NHS of preventable ill health.
Screening helps to find out if you have a higher chance of a particular health problem, which may mean you can get earlier treatment and make more informed decisions about your health. Immunisation offers reliable protection against common infectious diseases which may cause serious illness, or even death. Getting the recommended vaccinations also protects vulnerable members of the community who may not be able to have the jabs themselves, due to serious health conditions or immunity problems.
Your health screening and immunisation
Get checked
The NHS offers a comprehensive guide to health screening of all kinds.
Get your jabs
The UKHSA's complete routine vaccination schedule includes childhood vaccinations and selective programmes, for people with underlying medical conditions.
If you are not sure about getting yourself or your child vaccinated, we recommend reading NHS advice on why vaccination is safe and important.
Get checked
Visit the UK National Screening Committee website for a brief video explaining the female lifetime screening pathway.
All women (or other people with a cervix) between the ages of 25 and 64 are eligible for cervical screening (also known as a smear test). This can detect early signs of cervical cancer, and make any disease much easier to treat. The NHS recommends getting a smear every three years until the age of 49, and every five years thereafter. If you're nervous about the smear or would like to know what's involved, read the NHS guidance on cervical screening.
Regular breast screening (mammograms) is available for women aged between 50 and 70. This can detect early signs of breast cancer, and make any disease much easier to treat. Women over the age of 70, or those who have a history of breast cancer in their family, can self-refer. If you're nervous about having a mammogram or would like to know what's involved, read the NHS guidance on breast screening.
Get checked
Visit the UK National Screening Committee website for a brief video explaining the male lifetime health screening pathway.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening is available for men during the year they turn 65. This can detect weaknesses if the main artery leading from the heart, and could stop a life-threatening condition from developing. If you are over 65, you can self-refer. If you would like to know what's involved, read the NHS guidance on AAA screening.
Get checked
If you're aged between 40 and 74, you should have an NHS Health check at least every five years. Visit the NHS Health Check page to find out what this screen involves, and how it can help you to prevent, or spot the early signs of serious illnesses.
Everyone aged between 60 and 74 is eligible to receive a bowel screening home test kit every two years. Visit the NHS website for more information on bowel screening, if you want to know what's involved, and why screening is important. If you're 75 or over, you can request a kit by phoning 0800 707 6060.
See separate sections (above) for additional screening which is available for men and women.
Get your jabs
If you're aged 65+, you can book a free flu vaccine online. Free vaccination is available at many pharmacies, as well as your GP surgery.
You may also receive invitations to come in for COVID-19 booster vaccinations, depending on your age.
Get registered
There are no particular recommended health screenings for healthy people of this age. However, for many young people, this is the first time that you have had to take responsibility for your own health and wellbeing. If you are studying away from home, you will need to register with a new GP, and your new surgery may offer or request a new patient health check. If you're not sure what to do, read our Get the right NHS help page.
Get your jabs
With lots of people newly coming together in confined environments and close mixing, universities and colleges can be hotspots for measles, mumps and meningococcal disease. It's really important to ensure that you are up to date with these vaccines:
- MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine
- MenACWY vaccine (protecting against 4 types of meningococcal disease)
- HPV vaccine protecting against genital warts, and cervical and other cancers caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV)
- Td/IPV booster vaccine protecting against diphtheria, tetanus and polio
Check your eligibility and when to get vaccinated
- You normally get two doses of MMR vaccine during childhood: one as a toddler and one before primary school.
- You normally get HPV, MenACWY vaccines and the Td/IPV booster while at secondary school. Girls remain eligible for HPV vaccine up to your 25th birthday, and boys born after 1 September 2006 are also eligible until your 25th birthday.
- All GPs should be able to offer any of these routine vaccines to eligible students. Students from overseas are also eligible for these vaccines, with similar age-related restrictions.
Get checked
Your baby should have a newborn physical examination within 72 hours of birth, which includes their eyes, ears, hips and testes (if applicable).
When your baby is five days old, they should have a newborn blood spot test. This can identify any of nine rare but serious health conditions, and make it easier to start treatment promptly, if necessary.
Babies are also eligible for newborn hearing screening. This can identify permanent hearing loss as early as possible, giving you access to early treatment and the best advice from the start.
Get your jabs
The School Age Immunisation Service, provided by HCRG care group for several local counties, offers vaccination to young people aged 5 to 19, against a variety of diseases including the following:
- Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)
- Universal Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
- Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio (DTP)
- Meningitis
Visit the Immunisation Service website for further information and details on how to book an appointment.