Vaccines

Your child will be offered a few more vaccines as they get into their teenage years, here we take a look at what they are and why they are offered. HPV Vaccine Girls and boys aged 12 -13 are offered the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine which helps protect against cancers caused by HPV including cervical cancer, some mouth and throat cancers and some cancers of the anal and genitals.

This vaccine also helps protect against genital warts. In England, your child will be offered it routinely when they are in Year 8 and then a second dose will be offered 6-24 months after their 1st dose.

It is important to have both doses of the vaccine to be properly protected.

If your child does miss the vaccine in year 8, then they can have it free on the NHS up until their 25th birthday. There has been some really positive news recently about this vaccine, with reports stating that the HPV vaccine reduces cervical cancer by 90% and could change the NHS Cervical Screening programme as a result of the vaccines success. The vaccine is given as 2 injections in the upper arm, at least 6 months apart. To find out more about the vaccine, click here . 3-in-1 Teenager Booster The 3-in-1 or Td/IPV vaccine is given to boost your child’s protection against tetanus, diphtheria and polio and is offered to all young people when they are 14.

The vaccine is routinely given at secondary school in year 9, at the same time as the MenACWY vaccine. The vaccine is very safe with some possible minor side effects like swelling, redness or tenderness where the injection was given. A letter will be sent home from school asking if you give permission for your child to have the vaccine and it is given as a single injection into the muscle of the upper arm. To find out more about the vaccine, click here . MenACWY Vaccine The MenACWY vaccine protects against 4 strains of meningitis (A,C,W and Y) and also blood poisoning (septicaemia).

Your child will be routinely offered the vaccine between the ages of 13-15 when they are in Years 9 or 10 and it is given at the same time as the 3-in-1 Teenager Booster. The vaccine is highly effective against the 4 strains of meningitis but like all vaccines, there can be a few mild side effects which shouldn’t last longer than 24 hours.

These may include redness or itching where the vaccine was administered, a high temperature, feeling sick or tiredness. The vaccine is given as a single injection into the upper arm. To find out more about the vaccine, click here .

Source: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/hpv-human-papillomavirus-vaccine.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-6052671.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/3-in-1-teenage-booster.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/men-acwy-vaccine/

Your child will be offered a few more vaccines as they get into their teenage years, here we take a look at what they are and why...