School immunisation programme can protect children against harmful diseases

IMMUNISATION is one of the most effective ways of protecting your child against harmful diseases. The HSE is advising parents of first year students to make sure their child gets vaccinated through the HSE school immunisation programme this year.

Dr Lucy Jessop, Director of the HSE National Immunisation Office, explained: “First year students in secondary school are now bringing home immunisation consent packs. We ask parents to keep an eye out and check their child’s school bag if needed. A simple form needs to be completed and returned to the school as soon as possible to make sure they don’t miss out.

“You will be asked to provide details about your child, like their date of birth and contact details. You will also be asked some questions about your child’s health and their vaccination history. Don’t forget to cancers and 9 out of 10 cases of genital complete the consent box. warts.

“When the completed form is sent Dr Jessop continued: “It is safe to back to the school your child will receive all three vaccines at once. receive their vaccination when the Vaccination is vitally important to HSE vaccination team visits.” protect children from preventable

There are three vaccines offered diseases such as whooping cough free of charge through the schools and meningitis amongst others. We programme: know that meningitis can become

1. Tetanus, booster vaccine, (Tdap) very serious very quickly. We also - this vaccine protects your child know that HPV causes 1 in 20 cancers from developing diphtheria, tetanus worldwide. and whooping cough. “The majority of vaccines will be

2. Meningococcal ACWY given on school premises but if this (MenACWY) booster vaccine - this isn’t possible, the HSE will invite protects your child from potentially students and their parents to a local life-threatening meningococcal clinic. These vaccines are also available (meningitis and septicaemia) group to students who are in special A, C, W and Y infection. schools or are home schooled in the

3. HPV (human papillomavirus) same age group.’’ vaccine - the protects against almost For more information about the all cases of cervical cancer, 7 out different vaccines and the school of 10 vaginal and 5 out of 10 vulval programmes visit the HSE website cancers, 9 out of 10 HPV related anal here or visit www.immunisation.ie.