Annual Teenage Booster and Meningitis Vaccination

Friday 18th February 2022

NHS Lothian are midway through the annual teenage booster and meningitis vaccine programme. This work takes place across schools in Edinburgh, East Lothian and West Lothian.  Our ‘slot’ in Lasswade is scheduled for Thursday 3rd March 2022.  Because the programme was cancelled last year, NHS Lothian are offering vaccinations to a double cohort this year, both S3 and S4.

This year, compared to previous years, we are aware that our return rate of consent forms is lower than what we’d expect.  This may because the forms were to be returned by early December. 

For this reason we are having a last push on our return to school next week.  As students can self consent on the day of our session, Thursday 3rd March, we will aim to identify students who have not returned a consent form but who intend to be vaccinated on the day.  We will then inform NHS Lothian in advance of our session.  This will allow NHS Lothian to get the appropriate number of vaccines ordered (without wastage) and to have sufficient staff

Why bother? The Meningitis ACWY vaccine protects teenagers at an age when they are at most risk of infection and the booster completes the full course of immunisations begun in infancy and provides long term protection. Ensuring high immunisation uptake is really important to achieve an overall vaccination rate of at least 80%.

For students who wish to be vaccinated but were not able to be vaccinated at the school session, there is opportunity to be vaccinated at a community clinic on a Friday afternoon.  Spaces are available.  To make an appointment at a Friday clinic please telephone 0131 446 4082.    

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