In this chapter, the scope and rationale for the vaccines recommended to protect against vaccine preventable diseases across the life course are considered. The Immunisation Against Infectious Disease, the Green Book (UKHSA online), details the UK vaccine programmes, providing information on the epidemiology of the vaccine preventable diseases, characteristics of vaccines and their indications and contraindications. In addition to the Green Book, most UK vaccine programmes have an accompanying “guidance for healthcare professionals” document to provide additional operational information. Vaccinators should be familiar with these resources and use them to give full details of the specific vaccine programmes. The chapter gives an overview and discussion on how vaccines can be used to control, eliminate or eradicate disease. It outlines how this has developed as more vaccines become available and newer vaccine technologies make this possible. The UK routine vaccine schedule should be considered as a whole, with vaccines recommended and available across the lifespan. For many vaccines, there is no upper age limit so even when people miss vaccines at the “recommended time” they may be offered at a later stage. The rationale for targeting vaccines for particular age groups and cohorts aims to ensure maximum protection and most effective way to tackle infectious diseases for the population. A high and sustained uptake of vaccines is required to protect the wider community and prevent diseases that are no longer common from re-emerging in the population. All individuals have the right, under the NHS constitution (NHS 2023), to receive the vaccinations recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) under an NHS-provided national immunisation programme, as appropriate for their age. This chapter is separated into six sections: Vaccines recommended across the life course Vaccines for specific infection management