Immunisations for school age children
All school aged immunisations, in-line with the National Programme for BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire, are provided by HCRG Care Group on behalf of the NHS, in-line with the National Immunisation Programme.
Routine school aged immunisation schedule delivered in schools is as follows:
- Years R-6 - Nasal Flu
- Year 8 - Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
- Year 9 - Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio (Td/IPV or DTP) booster and Meningitis ACWY (MenACWY)For details of all immunisations your child should receive at secondary school see the guide to immunisation for teenagers and young people
The above immunisations are offered in your child’s school, who our Immunisation Team work with in partnership. All information will be shared via your child’s school.
The School Aged Immunisation Service work in partnership with all Swindon schools, and all immunisations are primarily offered in the school setting. You will be sent an electronic link via your child’s school with full details of the immunisation and we ask that you complete this on receipt to provide consent, or to decline the offer if you do not wish your child to receive the immunisation offered.
If you would like further information or support with competing the consent, you can contact our single point of access on 0300 247 0082 or by email at: vcl.immunisations@nhs.net.
If you have provided consent for your child to be immunised and they are absent on the day of the session, they will still be offered the vaccination either when the team re-visit the school, or at a community clinic. Further information will be provided on how to access this if they are absent.
Regular community clinics are run at central Swindon locations. These are for children and young people who are Electively Home Educated, on role at a school but not attending, or if there is any other reason that the school setting may not be appropriate for them.
Clinic appointments can be booked using our choose and book link, which will be provided following receipt of a completed consent form.
Annual flu vaccination
The flu vaccine for children has an excellent safety record and this includes the nasal spray given to school aged children and pre-schoolers, which has been given to millions of children in the UK and worldwide.
The flu vaccine for the 2024/25 school year is offered free to:
- children aged 2 or 3 years old (on 31 August before flu vaccinations start in the autumn)
- all primary school children from reception to Year 6
- some secondary school aged children in years 7 to 11
- children aged 2 to 17 with a health condition that puts them at greater risk from flu
Further information is available at Child flu vaccine.
Where can children get their flu vaccination?
Pre-school children can get a flu vaccine from their GP. If your child is in a clinical risk group you will receive a letter inviting them to be vaccinated at the GP practice. You can accept this offer, or your child can be vaccinated by the School Aged Immunisation Service in their school or at a community clinic.
If your child receives their vaccination from the GP, please compete a school consent when offered and decline the vaccination, providing your reason. .
School aged children will be offered their annual flu vaccine in school, with further opportunities to get the vaccine at a community venue if they miss the school session.
Children who are electively home educated will be offered the vaccination, provided they are in an eligible age group. Parents are asked to complete a consent form, decline the nasal vaccination and you will then have the option to consent for the inactivated injection. A choose and book link will then be provided for you to book an appointment at a community clinic for them to receive the flu injection.
If you would like any support with completing a consent form, or have any further questions, please contact the School Age Immunisation Service for Swindon on 0300 247 0082 or by email at: vcl.immuisations@nhs.net.
Vaccinations at Secondary School
The HPV vaccination is offered in Year 8 and is important for both boys and girls to protect against the Human Papilloma Virus’ that can cause cancers in both males and females. Having the vaccination in Year 8 provides the best protection against these virus’.
The Diphtheria/Tetanus/Polio vaccination offered in Year 9 provides the final dose of a 5-dose course, 4 of which are given before your child starts school. This gives a final boost of protection to last your child into adulthood and protect against these diseases which can have a life changing impact if contracted.
The Meningitis ACWY vaccination is given at the same time as the Td/IPV vaccination in Year 9, protecting against the 4 main meningitis strains that young people in their late teenage years and early adulthood are particularly likely to come into contact with.
Further information about all these vaccinations, and the diseases that they protect against, can be found at School Age Immunisations - Wiltshire Children's Community Service.
