The Immunisations Service delivers the routine national immunisation programme to anyone aged 0 to 19 in schools and community clinics.
Vaccines are the most important thing we can do to protect ourselves now and in the future. The NHS has a guide to help you understand the vaccines offered in the UK and when to have them. The NHS website also explains how they work and why they’re safe. You can find more about the vaccines offered at secondary school on our website.
You’ll be offered a range of vaccinations to protect you including:
- The nasal spray flu vaccine is offered every year to young people aged 11 to 16 years old during the winter months to help protect them against flu. The vaccine is given as a spray squirted up each nostril. It’s quick, painless, safe and effective.
- The HPV vaccine is given in one dose to all children in year eight. Although most HPV infections go away on their own, some types of HPV may cause infections that increase the risk of certain cancers and pre-cancerous cell changes. This vaccine protects against types of HPV cancers, like anal cancer and cervical cancer.
- The meningitis vaccine is given in one dose in year nine, gives some protection against meningitis A, B, C, W and Y. Meningitis and septicaemia can lead to life-changing disabilities, such as amputations, hearing loss and brain damage. Older teenagers and new university students are at higher risk of infection because they’re mixing with lots of new people, some of whom may have the meningitis bacteria at the back of their nose and throat without realising it. Young people can book into one of our clinics up until the age of 20 or ask a GP for this vaccine until the turn 25, if this was missed at school or before coming to the UK to study.
- The Td/IPV vaccine sometimes known as the teenage booster or three-in-one protects against three separate diseases: tetanus, diphtheria and polio. It’s given in year nine.
- The MMR vaccine is a safe and effective combined vaccine offered to four to 19 year-olds as part of a catch-up campaign in our community clinics. Year eight and 11 pupils will be offered the vaccination at school if they haven’t had this before. This vaccine is given as an injection in the arm. It protects against three serious illnesses:
