Hippo Labs uses the official NHS England QOF Business Rules to help practices track childhood and shingles vaccinations.
These indicators focus on timely delivery of childhood immunisations (6-in-1, MMR, and DTaP/IPV boosters) and shingles vaccinations in eligible older adults.
💬 Just a reminder: these indicators aren’t clinical guidelines — they define how QOF achievement is measured, which patients are counted, and what data must be recorded for payment.
📋 The Cohorts
Vaccination indicators don’t use traditional “registers.”
Instead, they apply to age-based cohorts of patients who reach key milestones during the QOF year:
Cohort | Age Group | Focus |
VICC001 | Babies reaching 8 months | 6-in-1 / 5-in-1 / 4-in-1 primary series |
VICC002 | Children reaching 18 months | 1st dose of MMR |
VICC003 | Children reaching 5 years | DTaP/IPV booster + 2 MMR doses |
VICC004 | Adults reaching 80 or 81 | Shingles vaccination (given age 70–79) |
✅ In short: each indicator looks at whether eligible patients received key vaccines by the right age.
🩺 The Indicators
👶 VI001 — 6-in-1 / 5-in-1 / 4-in-1 (Primary Immunisations)
Measures:
% of babies who reached 8 months old in the preceding 12 months and received 3 doses of a diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis-containing vaccine before 8 months of age.
Counts as complete if:
3 valid doses of 6-in-1, 5-in-1, or 4-in-1 vaccine recorded before 248 days (8 months) of age.
Exclusions:
Contraindication to diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis vaccine.
Late registrations where the practice didn’t have time to complete doses (e.g. joined after 5–7 months old with incomplete course).
⚠️ Common pitfalls:
Missing one dose or using non-coded entries.
Third dose recorded after 8 months.
Contraindication code missing.
✅ In short: babies must have 3 coded DTP-containing vaccine doses before turning 8 months.
🧸 VI002 — MMR (First Dose, 12–18 Months)
Measures:
% of children who reached 18 months old in the preceding 12 months and received at least 1 dose of MMR between 12 and 18 months of age.
Counts as complete if:
MMR vaccination recorded after 12 months but before 18 months (558 days) of age.
Exclusions:
Contraindication to MMR.
Registered too late to vaccinate (e.g. joined after 17 months).
⚠️ Common pitfalls:
MMR recorded before 12 months (doesn’t count).
Using “MMR given by other provider” codes incorrectly.
Missing vaccination date or non-coded entry.
✅ In short: ensure the first MMR dose is recorded between 12–18 months of age.
🎒 VI003 — Preschool Boosters and Second MMR
Measures:
% of children who reached 5 years old in the preceding 12 months and received:
A reinforcing dose of DTaP/IPV before age 5, and
At least 2 doses of MMR between ages 1–5.
Counts as complete if:
Two coded MMR doses recorded after the 1st birthday, and
A DTaP/IPV booster recorded before the 5th birthday.
Exclusions:
MMR or DTaP/IPV contraindicated.
Registered late (e.g. after 4 years 9 months with incomplete vaccinations).
⚠️ Common pitfalls:
Booster recorded as “DTaP/IPV” but not coded as a booster.
Missing 2nd MMR code or incorrect age/date.
MMR recorded before 1st birthday (excluded).
✅ In short: all 5-year-olds should have 2 MMRs and a DTaP/IPV booster before turning 5.
🌸 VI004 — Shingles (Aged 70–79)
Measures:
% of patients who reached 80 or 81 in the preceding 12 months and received a shingles vaccine between ages 70–79.
Counts as complete if:
Single-dose Zostavax given between 70–79 years, or
Both doses of Shingrix given between 70–80 years (2nd dose allowed up to age 80).
Exclusions:
Shingles contraindicated.
Declined or service unavailable.
Patient registered too late to complete both doses.
⚠️ Common pitfalls:
2nd Shingrix dose given after 81st birthday (too late).
“Declined second dose” not coded correctly.
Recording under incorrect SNOMED cluster (GP vs OHP).
✅ In short: all patients turning 80 or 81 should have completed shingles vaccination before 80.
🧩 Summary Table
Indicator | Focus | Age Group | What It Measures | What Counts as Complete |
VI001 | Primary immunisations | 8 months | 3 doses of 6-in-1 / 5-in-1 / 4-in-1 | All 3 doses before 8 months |
VI002 | MMR 1st dose | 18 months | MMR between 12–18 months | One dose recorded 12–18 months |
VI003 | Preschool boosters + MMR2 | 5 years | DTaP/IPV booster + 2 MMR doses | Booster + 2 MMRs before age 5 |
VI004 | Shingles | 70–79 years (check at 80/81) | Shingles vaccination course | Single Zostavax or 2-dose Shingrix before age 80 |
🌟 Why This Matters
Following these indicators helps practices:
Keep vaccination data accurate and complete.
Identify children or adults overdue for vaccines.
Support high coverage of childhood immunisations.
Demonstrate QOF compliance and proactive population health management.
✅ In short: the Vaccination and Immunisation Indicators ensure children and older adults receive essential vaccines on time — and that practices can evidence complete, accurate records.
📚 Sources
NHS England QOF Business Rules v50.0 (Vaccination & Immunisation, April 2025)
Primary Care Domain Reference Sets (TRUD Portal)