The Hertfordshire and East Anglia Community and School Age Immunisation Service primarily provides vaccinations to children aged from 5-19 years of age who attend school in the Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Norfolk and Suffolk local education authorities, or people resident within these county council areas and in alternative or home-schooled based arrangements.
We also provide BCG and At-Risk monovalent Hepatitis B vaccinations to babies and young children in these areas, ensuring people in need are able to access these vaccinations in a combination of community vaccination settings and in their own home.
Our current remit is in excess of 650,000 children and young people spread across these areas – and we attend to all vaccination needs for these people following a yearly planned programme. We have been commissioned to deliver the school immunisation programme to all schools in Hertfordshire, and have recently expanded to East Anglia. We work in partnership with Vaccination UK (who deliver our influenza programme between October and January each year) and schools, including state, independent, special schools and pupil referral units, and offer community clinics for young people who are educated at home. We also respond to cases of disease outbreaks in the community such as measles or mumps.
We hold community catch-up clinics that allow us to address vaccinations you or your child may have missed at school and have assisted during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the ongoing delivery of all childhood vaccinations.
If you have any concerns that you are eligible but have not received an invitation or heard from us regarding catch-up – or are home-schooling your child and have not received a letter directly from us – please contact the team using the details below:
Current and Prospective 2021/22 Academic Year Plans
Hertfordshire
HPV1 (Yr 8 Students)
Starting September 2021
HPV2 (Yr 8 Students)
Starting April 2022
Meningitis ACWY & DTP (Yr 9 Students)
Starting December 2021
Influenza (All children – R to Yr 11)
Starting October 2021
MMR
Running from April 2021
HepB – SEND Schools (Dose 1 & 2)
Starting September 2021
East Anglia
HPV2 (for 2020/21 Yr 8 Students)
Starting September 2021
HPV1 (for 2021/22 Yr 8 Students)
Starting September 2021
HPV2 (for 2021/22 Yr 8 Students)
Starting April 2022
Meningitis ACWY & DTP (Yr 9 Students)
Starting January 2022
Influenza (All children – R to Yr 11)
Starting October 2021
HepB – SEND Schools (Dose 1 & 2)
Starting September 2021
Further information about these vaccinations can be found below, or if you’d like to read more about the full childhood vaccination programme please visit: NHS.uk - Vaccinations.
What vaccines we provide
Our programme covers the following vaccines, please click on the links to find out more about each one:
If you need to speak to someone in our teams to discuss your vaccination appointment or if you have an eligibility enquiry please get in touch:
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire Community and School Age Immunisation Service: Telephone Number: 01727 732 062 – 8:00am to 4pm Email: hct.immsenquiries@nhs.net Follow us on Twitter: @HCTNHS
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Community and School Age Immunisations Service: Telephone Number: 0300 555 5055 (Option 1 at Menu) – 8:00am to 4pm Email: hct.csaiscambspb@nhs.net Follow us on Twitter: @CambsImmsTeam
Norfolk
Norfolk Community and School Age Immunisations Service: Telephone Number: 0300 555 5055 (Option 2 at Menu) – 8:00am to 4pm Email: hct.csaisnorffolk@nhs.net Follow us on Twitter: @ImmsNorfolk
Suffolk
Suffolk Community and School Age Immunisations Service: Telephone Number: 0300 555 5055 (Option 3 at Menu) – 8:00am to 4pm Email: hct.csaissuffolk@nhs.net Follow us on Twitter: @SuffolkImmsTeam
Vaccinations given by our Community and School Age Immunisation Services have age brackets where you first become eligible, and for some a set period between doses of the same vaccine. It is normally advised that you leave a minimum of four weeks between vaccinations of the same kind, but you can have several different vaccines at once; for example you can have your School Leaving Booster (DTP) and your Meningitis ACWY vaccination on the same day.
For the 2021/22 Academic Year the eligibility will be as follows:
Date of birth – PRIMARY SCHOOL
Year group
Vaccinations eligible
1 September 2017 to 31 August 2018
Nursery
Influenza (Given at GP)
1 September 2016 to 31 August 2017
Reception
Influenza
1 September 2015 to 31 August 2016
Year 1
Influenza
1 September 2014 to 31 August 2015
Year 2
Influenza
1 September 2013 to 31 August 2014
Year 3
Influenza
1 September 2012 to 31 August 2013
Year 4
Influenza
1 September 2011 to 31 August 2012
Year 5
Influenza
1 September 2010 to 31 August 2011
Year 6
Influenza
Date of birth – SECONDARY SCHOOL
Year group
Vaccinations Eligible
1 September 2009 to 31 August 2010
Year 7
Influenza
1 September 2008 to 31 August 2009
Year 8
Influenza, HPV
1 September 2007 to 31 August 2008
Year 9
Influenza, MenACWY, DTP
1 September 2006 to 31 August 2007
Year 10
Influenza
1 September 2005 to 31 August 2006
Year 11
Influenza
A child will continue to be eligible for a vaccine even if they missed it the first year of eligibility – for example, if a HPV vaccination was missed in Year 8, it can be give as a catch up in Year 9.
There are some specific requirements for each vaccine or area, which is described in the chart below:
Vaccine
Year
Note
Influenza
ALL
Given nasally – an alternative with no porcine gelatine content is now available – please ask for more information if you require this alternative
HPV Dose 1
Year 8
Normally given in Autumn Term – Note: Boys in Year 11+ 2021/22 are not eligible for HPV vaccine
HPV Dose 2
Year 8/9
Can be given in Summer Term or next Autumn Term - Must have a minimum of 6 months between Dose 1 and Dose 2
HPV Dose 3
Year 8+
If you start your HPV vaccines after your 15th birthday you need to receive a 3rd dose of vaccine to complete your course
MenACWY
Year 9
Given together with DTP on the same day
HepB Dose 1/2
ALL (SEND)
This vaccine is offered to patients attending SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) Schools only as two doses, four weeks apart
MMR
Herts Year 7/8 EA Year 10+
If you are over 5 and have missed either MMR dose you can receive this at any time via your GP practice; Hertfordshire School students in year 7 and 8 or East Anglia students in Year 10 and above can receive this via the CSAIS Team and community catch-up sessions as well.
How do you consent to be vaccinated?
For children and young people under the age of 16, parents, or adults with Parental Responsibility granted through court, must give consent for vaccination via our online system. Parents/carers will receive the information from school, usually via the school’s email or text system, which will include instructions for giving or declining consent online via our accessible “E-Consent” process, as well as a closing date. Young adults over the age of 16 are able to consent themselves without requiring parental consent.
It is important to remember to complete your consent form online even if you or your child is refusing to receive the vaccination with us. We can base future planning and changes to how vaccinations are provided from your responses and ensure our services meet your needs. You can change your consent/refusal at any time whilst the online portal is open use the link provided by your school – or if you need to urgently change this consent form and the portal is already closed for that session please call us on the Contact Us details listed above.
Very occasionally, a young person under the age of 16 may request a vaccination without parental consent. In these circumstances a qualified clinician would make a thorough assessment of the young person’s understanding, knowledge and competence to make such a decision. If the decision is made that they have the right level of knowledge and understanding, and they cannot be persuaded to discuss it with their parents, the clinician may go ahead and vaccinate the young person, known as Gillick Competency.
There are a few things you can do to prepare your child for vaccination that might be helpful. It’s completely natural that children might feel anxious about having their vaccines – if they don’t know what to expect they might fear imagined situations that won’t happen in reality. Here is some advice on how you can reassure your child about some common worries, and how best to look after them once they’ve had a vaccination.
Top tips
Your child might be calm and confident about having the vaccine, but there are still some things you can do so they are prepared. It helps to talk to your child about why they are having the vaccine. You could explain that it is only a few seconds only of discomfort and protects them from diseases that could make them very unwell.
If you can, make sure your child wears short sleeves on the day as this makes it much easier and quicker, and your child won’t have to undo or take their shirt off. If not, encourage them to wear a vest under their school shirt.
Check your child has breakfast before school as being anxious burns more calories and this can make them have a headache after they’ve had the injection.
Talk to your child about not listening to rumours and scary stories to do with having the vaccine. If you have anything that you or your child are about worried about, you can call the school's immunisation team.
If your child is anxious they could practice deep breathing to help them relax, they can use an app like Headspace, or just count to 10 breathing slowly in through their nose and then out through their mouth.
The nurse will support your child and chat to them about the vaccination process and what they’re doing.
Not sure about what a vaccination feels like and worried about needle-pain? Suggest that your child flicks the palm of their own hand – the sensation and length of time it lasts are similar to having an injection.
Getting and feeling ready
The injection is not like a blood test, it’s easier and much quicker
It feels like a pinch or a cat scratch
The needles are not huge - just long enough to get to the right place!
It’s much quicker than having a piercing or a tattoo
The needle cannot break off in your arm and we can’t leave any part of it inside you
Your arm will not fall off – reactions to vaccines are very rare, and even more common ones tend to be mild and pass quickly
You will not get the disease – vaccines either have only part of the virus, or an inactive ‘dead’ virus or so little that it cannot infect you with the actual disease
The vaccine protects you, it doesn’t harm you – even if you feel sore or tired after the vaccination you’re not sick; it’s just your immune system working, and your body learning how to fight that virus in the future
Aftercare
Your child will be advised to continue with their normal activities and to move their arm regularly after their injection. This will help to avoid the arm feeling stiff
It is very common to experience mild side effects such as redness, pain and swelling at the injection site. Paracetamol can be taken if needed
Your GP practice will be automatically notified that you’ve received a vaccination so that it can be recorded in your medical record at the GP – you don’t need to tell them separately
If parents, carers or children have any concerns, they can contact the team via the details on our Contact Us page. Out of hours, advice should be sought from 111 or their GP if you feel you have had a reaction to a vaccine
What to expect at a session?
Children will be called down in groups from class, or groups determined by the administrators, to be given their vaccinations on the day. It is useful if parents are available to be contacted on the day if needed to clarify queries on consent or refusal.
Children absent on the day of the vaccination session may be able to be seen at a future session if the team have more than one session booked for the vaccine; and we will endeavour to recall any patients who have missed vaccinations in previous years each time we visit a school. You should not need to re-consent if you miss your first appointment with us; but please understand that sometimes we may need to confirm your consent if your child has recently joined to the school and we’ve not seen your child before. Alternatively, you may have an invitation to book an appointment at one of our community clinics should you wish to catch up any missed school vaccines.
When your child has a vaccine they develop antibodies to protect against the disease – this is called 'immunisation'. After this, if your child comes into contact with the disease, their body will recognise it and know how to fight against it with those antibodies, stopping them from getting sick or reducing dramatically the time they are sick for and how severe their sickness gets.
There are a lot of myths around vaccination that can cause stress, anxiety and worries.
It’s a myth that your child can’t have a vaccine if they have a cough or cold - as long as they don’t have a fever they can have a vaccine
It’s a myth that you can use homeopathy instead of vaccines. There isn’t any evidence that homeopathy protects your child from serious diseases, this is what vaccinations are for
Sometimes people may think it’s better to get the disease than to have the vaccine that protects against it. The diseases that vaccines protect us from can have very serious complications, which can be avoided by having the vaccine. Reactions tend to be mild and pass quickly – and you cannot pass a vaccination on to another person accidentally whilst recovering
It’s a myth that you can be overwhelmed by vaccinations. It can take up to 12 days to be fully immunised following a vaccination as the body adapts and learns – however a vaccine uses a tiny percentage of your immune system to trigger that process and having a vaccination won’t make it more likely for you to get sick with something else in the meantime
It’s a myth that single vaccinations are ‘better’ than combined vaccines. This is often said about receiving the combined MMR vaccine vs individual Measles vaccines – but there’s no evidence to suggest that it has any benefit and it delays protection and increases the number of injections you must have – for more information see here
It’s a myth that vaccinations can cause autism. There is no link between MMR vaccines and diagnosis of being on the autism spectrum. Research exploring and explaining this perception have investigated widely and found no link. The Oxford University 'Vaccine Knowledge Project' has a list of MMR studies and their findings.
The Trust's Patient and Carer Experience Team supports everyone who uses our services to share their feedback and to work alongside the Trust departments to understand feedback and make improvements where necessary.
One of the tools we use is the Friends and Family Test; which is a national questionnaire designed to measure how well a service is performing and where there may be areas for improvement.
If you would like to know more about the Patient and Carer Experience Team please visit their homepage here.
Alternatively if you’d like to contact the teams directly:
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) Telephone Number: 0800 011 6113 / 01707 388164 - 10am to 2pm Email: pals.hchs@nhs.net
Raising a formal complaint and providing feedback Telephone Number: 01707 388036 - 9.30am to 4pm Email: hct.patientexperienceteam@nhs.net