NHS Ayrshire and Arran issues HPV vaccine warning to parents

Ayrshire: Families need to talk about vaccines with their kids. It’s important to sign and return the forms to school quickly.

In Scotland, secondary schools offer three vaccines: HPV, MenACWY, and DTP. These vaccines help protect against serious diseases.

All S1 pupils get the HPV vaccine. It protects against cancers from the human papillomavirus. The HPV program started in Scotland in 2008. A study last year found no cervical cancer cases in fully vaccinated women.

However, vaccination rates for S1 pupils have dropped over the last ten years. S3 pupils receive the MenACWY vaccine for meningitis and septicaemia, and the DTP vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus, and polio. These vaccines complete childhood vaccinations and provide long-term immunity.

Lynne McNiven, NHS Ayrshire and Arran’s public health director, emphasized the importance of vaccinations. She said it’s the best way to protect children from serious diseases.

Local schools have sent out HPV consent forms. Parents should check school bags and discuss the free vaccines with their children. Make sure to sign and return the forms by the deadline.

The national Chat. Sign. Protect. campaign raises awareness about secondary school vaccines. It offers helpful information, including videos that answer common questions and advice for young people not in mainstream school.