School immunisation programme
NHS Lothian nursing staff will be vaccinating girls in schools during March – April 2016 for the HPV (cervical cancer) immunisation programme.
This programme for girls has changed to once a year, and is offered to S1 pupils (with second dose a year later in S2).
As a result of the changeover from the previous programme, the spring 2016 sessions will involve S1, S2 and S3 girls (first dose for S1, second dose for S2 and second dose for S3).
Immunisation helps protect our communities from a wide range of illnesses. Thanks to immunisation, diseases such as polio have disappeared in the UK. However, these diseases could come back as they are still seen in many countries throughout the world – which is why it’s so important to get your jabs. The NHS Lothian school nurse team carry out an annual immunisation programme.
HPV vaccinations for girls will be given in spring 2016. Consent packs are being issued now. Please discuss the consent pack at home and return it to school as soon as you can.
The HPV vaccination for girls helps to protect against cervical cancer and is designed to protect against the 2 types of HPV that cause 75% of the cases of cervical cancer. The vaccine also protects against two other types of HPV that cause about 90% of cases of genital warts.
