Schools' vaccination programme is underway

By Lily O'Connor

The HSE is urging parents of first year students to get their child vaccinated through the HSE school immunisation programme this year.

The immunisation programme is offered free of charge in secondary schools nationwide. There are three vaccines available to students; tetanus booster vaccine, meningococcal ACWY booster vaccine, and the HPV vaccine. The three vaccines can be received at once.

The tetanus booster vaccine protects children from developing diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough while the meningococcal ACWY booster vaccine will protect against meningitis and septicaemia. The HPV vaccine protects against almost all cases of cervical cancer as well as 7 out of 10 vaginal and 5 out of 10 vulval cancers, 9 out of 10 HPV related anal cancers, and 9 out of 10 cases of genital warts.

Dr Lucy Jessop, Director of the HSE National Immunisation Office, explained: “Vaccination is vitally important to protect children from preventable diseases such as whooping cough and meningitis amongst others. We know that meningitis can become very serious very quickly. We also know that HPV causes 1 in 20 cancers worldwide.”

Vaccines are to be given on the school premises where possible and are also available to students who are in special schools or are home schooled of the same age group.

Consent forms to take part in the programme will be provided to students and must be completed and returned to schools as soon as possible.