Immunisations

Specialist nurses from our trust deliver the national immunisation programme in schools in Northumberland, Newcastle, North Tyneside and Gateshead.

The national immunisation programme aims to give children the best protection against a range of infections and diseases, ensuring that they are protected from infancy, through their teenage years and on to adulthood.

The high level of vaccine coverage has meant that dangerous, vaccine-preventable diseases, such as polio, are rare in the UK. However, experience shows that these diseases can come back if the number of immunised children falls – they are still around in many countries throughout the world.

The immunisation programme includes the annual flu vaccination for children in reception to year 11 in mainstream schools and up to year 13 in Special Schools. HPV is now being offered to all children in year 8 to protect against different HPV related cancers. This is now a single dose programme. The ‘three in one’ teenage booster for diphtheria, tetanus, polio and meningitis ACWY is given to all pupils aged 13-14.

Any young person who has missed any of their teenage vaccinations will  be offered these again, either in school or a community clinic. We will also be offering MMR vaccinations to those children and young people who have not completed the recommended 2 doses of the vaccine. This will be given to children and young people, via appointment in our community clinics.

We work in partnership with Public Health England, schools (including state, independent and special schools) and pupil referral units as well as home-educated children and traveller families, GPs, the 0-19 community services and looked-after children’s teams to deliver the service. The service is offered to all children up to the age of 18 years old, either living in, or resident in the North of Tyne region.

The team can also provide expert advice to children and families, other professionals and schools regarding immunisation and vaccination issues.

Our immunisation programmes are primarily carried out in schools and are delivered according to national campaigns and the childhood immunisation schedule. You can read more here about the childhood vaccination schedule here 

Your child will receive their immunisation at school, but we also offer local catch-up clinics for those who have been absent during school vaccination programmes or for young people who are home educated or require extra support due to their personal needs.

Anyone can refer into the service if they think a school aged child has missed their immunisations. This can be done by contacting the service directly and we can discuss how the child can receive their immunisations.

Consent is now obtained using an electronic consent system - Immunisation Consent (northumbriaimmunisations.co.uk). To access the system, you will need a code which will be provided by the school.

Please contact your school in the first instance if you do not receive the code from your child’s school and you are aware that other families in the same year group have received one. If families need to contact the team, please do so via the telephone numbers below.

If your child does not attend school, you can contact the immunisation team on the telephone numbers below and the team members will assist you with this process.

If you choose not to consent for your child to be vaccinated, please complete the form indicating non-consent. This will prevent you receiving text reminders to compete a consent form.

Nasal Flu immunisations: the years groups included in this vaccination delivery is based on the cohorts selected by NHSE on a yearly basis.

Flu can be very unpleasant for children. They have the same symptoms as adults and some children develop a very high fever or complications of flu such as pneumonia. They may need hospital treatment, and very occasionally a child may die from flu. For children with long-term health conditions such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease or lung disease, getting flu can be very serious as they are more at risk of developing serious complications.

The flu vaccine for children is needle-free and given as a single dose of nasal spray squirted up each nostril. It has few side effects and, due to its properties, works better than the injectable vaccine. It’s quick and painless and will mean your child is less likely to become ill if they come into contact with the flu virus. Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust has produced a child friendly video you can watch here. You can also find further information on the NHS website here.

We are able to offer intra-muscular (IM) flu injections for those children and young people who cannot receive the live nasal vaccine due to health, religious or other reasons. Parents and guardians can chose on the consent form which vaccination is the most appropriate to their child. In some cases, the IM injection can only be given in clinics.

During April - June, the vaccine to protect against HPV is being offered to your child.  By having the HPV vaccination, your child will be protected against the HPV virus for many years to come.  This will protect against several different HPV related cancers in boys and girls.  NHS Choices has more information and nidirect government services is a good resource for young people.

Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio (Td/IPV ) and Meningitis ACWY (Men ACWY) – (Year 9 male and female)

The Tetanus, Diphtheria and Polio (Td/IPV) and Meningococcal (Men) ACWY are two vaccines given at the same time, one in each upper arm.  The teenage booster, also known as the 3-in-1 or the Td/IPV vaccine, is given as one injection to boost your child’s protection against three separate diseases: tetanus, diphtheria and polio.

There are very few teenagers who cannot have the Td/IPV vaccines. If you are worried please contact your local immunisation team for advice or talk to your practice nurse or doctor.

The Men ACWY vaccine is given as one injection and protects against four different causes of meningitis and septicaemia –meningococcal (Men) A, C, W and Y diseases. Younger teenagers will be offered the Men ACWY vaccine in school as part of the routine adolescent schools programme alongside the 3-in-1 teenage booster.

• Diphtheria is a serious disease that usually begins with a sore throat and can quickly cause breathing problems. It can damage the heart and nervous system and, in severe cases, it can kill.
• Tetanus is a painful disease affecting the nervous system which can lead to muscle spasms, breathing problems and can be fatal.
• Polio is a virus that attacks the nervous system which can cause permanent paralysis of muscles. If it affects the chest muscles or the brain, polio can kill.

Further information can be found here 

Meningitis Vaccine (Men ACWY)

Meningitis is inflammation of the lining of the brain. One of the most serious and common causes of meningitis is by meningococcal bacteria. As well as meningitis, meningococcal infection can lead to septicaemia (blood poisoning), both of which can be very serious or fatal.

Teenagers are at higher risk of developing meningococcal disease and will be offered the vaccine which protects against four different types of Meningitis: A, C, W and Y at the same time as the teenage booster.

Further information can be found here.

Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio (Td/IPV​​​​​​​) and Meningitis ACWY (Men ACWY) – (Year 9 male and female)

The Tetanus, Diphtheria and Polio (Td/IPV) and Meningococcal (Men) ACWY are two vaccines given at the same time, one in each upper arm.  The teenage booster, also known as the 3-in-1 or the Td/IPV vaccine, is given as one injection to boost your child’s protection against three separate diseases: tetanus, diphtheria and polio.

There are very few teenagers who cannot have the Td/IPV vaccines. If you are worried please contact your local immunisation team for advice or talk to your practice nurse or doctor.

The Men ACWY vaccine is given as one injection and protects against four different causes of meningitis and septicaemia –meningococcal (Men) A, C, W and Y diseases. Younger teenagers will be offered the Men ACWY vaccine in school as part of the routine adolescent schools programme alongside the 3-in-1 teenage booster.

• Diphtheria is a serious disease that usually begins with a sore throat and can quickly cause breathing problems. It can damage the heart and nervous system and, in severe cases, it can kill.
• Tetanus is a painful disease affecting the nervous system which can lead to muscle spasms, breathing problems and can be fatal.
• Polio is a virus that attacks the nervous system which can cause permanent paralysis of muscles. If it affects the chest muscles or the brain, polio can kill.

Further information can be found here 

Meningitis Vaccine (Men ACWY)

Meningitis is inflammation of the lining of the brain. One of the most serious and common causes of meningitis is by meningococcal bacteria. As well as meningitis, meningococcal infection can lead to septicaemia (blood poisoning), both of which can be very serious or fatal.

Teenagers are at higher risk of developing meningococcal disease and will be offered the vaccine which protects against four different types of Meningitis: A, C, W and Y at the same time as the teenage booster.

Further information can be found here.

If you have any questions contact us:

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Call us on: 

0191 2828979

0191 2828978

0191 2828977

0191 2828976

Location:

There is now just one central location for all three teams:

Northumbria Healthcare Trust

Seaton Delaval Innovation Hub

Avenue Road

Seaton Delaval

Whitley Bay

Tyne & Wear

NE25 0EG