By Drive-through HPV vaccination clinics for Lincolnshire pupils
‘Drive through’ vaccination sessions for HPV will take place at a number of sites across Lincolnshire this summer.
The vaccine is normally given in schools as two separate doses in Year 8 and 9.
But clinics have been unable to go ahead due to the coronavirus crisis.
Letters are being sent to 1,500 parents of Year 8 children across the county this week, urging them to provide consent for their child to receive the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination.
Parents will then be contacted by the Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) team to arrange an appointment at one of the four sites across the county.
The ‘drive through’ sessions will take place in July and August.
Details for the four drive-through sites are still being finalised and confirmed.
It is thought that Johnson Hospital in Spalding will be one of the venues.
The vaccine provides protection against a number of life threatening cancers, including cervical cancer and mouth, neck and throat cancers.
82.4% of parents in Lincolnshire have already taken steps to protect their child’s health by registering for this year’s HPV vaccination programme.
For the first time from this year, the vaccine is also being given to boys in Year 8 at school, aged 12 and 13 years in England.
Tina Bramley, Strategic Lead for Children’s Specialist Services from LCHS, said:
“We want to make sure no child misses out on the opportunity to be protected from potentially life threatening conditions like cervical cancer and cancers of the mouth, neck and throat.
“We were fortunate that the vast majority of Year 8 children attending Lincolnshire schools – 6,613 pupils in total – had already received their HPV vaccination before the coronavirus lockdown took full effect.
“Recognising that schools are currently closed for Year 8 secondary school pupils, we have put plans in place to deliver an innovative ‘drive through’ vaccination service, minimising inconvenience for parents and maximising the health benefits for their children.
“I’d urge any parent who has received a letter asking for consent for their child to have the HPV vaccination to go online and complete the online form without delay to make sure that their child is properly protected against some very serious cancers in the future.”
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