Dear Parent/Carer,
As we are coming to the end of the school year, we understand that your child who is currently in Year 11 will shortly be leaving school.This is a good time to check that they are up to date with their childhood immunisations.
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
This will have been offered to girls and boys when they were in school Year 8 and 9. As of September 2023, it is a 1-dose programme (previously 2-dose). It protects against strains of the Human Papilloma Virus, which has been linked to causing cervical cancer as well as other cancers of the head, neck and genitals. The vaccine also protects against genital warts.
Tetanus Diphtheria & Polio (Td/IPV) and Meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY)
This would have been your child’s fifth and final booster for Tetanus, Diphtheria and Polio, as they should have received three as part of their baby immunisation schedule and a fourth before starting school.
The MenACWY vaccination protects against Meningitis (inflammation of the brain) and Septicaemia (blood poisoning), both of which can be life threatening.
The majority of universities also require new students to have had this vaccination prior to commencing their studies, as older teenagers are most at risk from these strains of Meningococcal bacteria.
Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)
If your child has not had 2 doses of the MMR vaccine, please contact us on 01244 397470 to book an appointment at one of our clinics.
There have been outbreaks of Measles in the UK, so it is very important that your child has been vaccinated with 2 doses to provide full protection.
If you believe your child has missed any of their childhood immunisations, please contact us via phone or email using the details at the top of this letter. We hold clinics at local children’s centres across our district.
You can check the childhood immunisation schedule on the NHS website using the following link: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/nhs-vaccinations-and-when-to-have-them/
Yours faithfully,
School Aged Immunisation Service – CWP