Immunisations and vaccines for young people
The school age immunisation programme is delivered by IntraHealth. For enquiries about the immunisations please contact IntraHealth on 03333 583397 (Option 5) or email immunisations.derbyshire@intrahealth.co.uk
The team go into school to immunise the children against different illnesses including Flu, Meningitis, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio, and HPV.
The UK has one of the most successful immunisation programmes in the world.
Vaccination programmes have played an important part in reducing or removing many dangerous diseases. However, it is important that people continue to be immunised against these diseases to make sure they don’t return and harm our families and communities.
Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent infectious diseases.
The flu vaccine is offered to children to help protect them and those around them against flu. The vaccine is mainly given to children as a nasal spray, but an injectable vaccine is also available. Schools will provide more information each autumn about the flu programme.
Young people can get a Covid-19 vaccine from a local clinic or GP surgery. This vaccine is not given out in school.
The HPV vaccine can help protect against cancers caused by the Human Papillomavirus. Children who become eligible for the HPV vaccine from the academic year 2023 to 2024 (date of birth between 1 September 2010 to 31 August 2011) onwards will only require one dose of the HPV vaccine. This will continue to be offered to children in school year 8 and those of the same age who are not in mainstream education.
The Teenage Booster (Td/IPV) vaccine is given to boost protection against 3 separate diseases: tetanus, diphtheria and polio. It is a single injection given into the muscle of the upper arm and routinely offered in year 9.
The Meningitis ACWY vaccine is given by a single injection into the upper arm and protects against 4 strains of the meningococcal bacteria – A, C, W and Y – which cause meningitis and blood poisoning (septicaemia).
The Meningitis ACWY vaccine is routinely offered to teenagers in year 9 at the same time as the Teenage Booster.
"Fresher" students going to university for the first time should make sure they have had the Meningitis ACWY vaccine to help prevent meningitis and septicaemia, which can be life threatening.
You might find you are ready to make some of your own decisions about your health and wellbeing. This video gives a bit more information about how health professionals will support you to make a decision for yourself.
It also covers situations where health professionals or your family may make decisions on your behalf.