Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT)’s community immunisations service has teamed up with Leicester City Football Club (LCFC) to continue its secondary school vaccination programme this summer, ensuring that pupils in the city do not miss out on important vaccinations, despite the constraints of the Coronavirus pandemic. The team will be delivering three vaccinations sessions (by appointment) at the King Power Stadium in Leicester during August.

Year 9 pupils who live in Leicester and who have not been at school since March, will have missed out on the normal opportunity in school to receive the teenage booster vaccination (Diptheria, Tetanus and Polio) and/or the Meningococcal ACWY vaccination. However, they will be invited to come along to one of the King Power sessions to receive these.

The sessions are being offered on the following dates:

  • Wednesday 12 August, 10 am – 6pm
  • Wednesday 19 August, 10 am – 6pm
  • Thursday 20 August, 10 am – 4pm

The extended Wednesday hours will hopefully make it easier for working parents to bring their child to the session.

LCFC has generously allowed the immunisations team to use the King Power stadium in the heart of the city to deliver the sessions, and the facilities are big enough for social distancing to be carried out effectively. There is also plenty of parking, making it easier for young people to be brought. A one-way system will be in operation, and parents/carers will be directed to a dedicated waiting area while the vaccinations are given.

Last month the community immunisation team ran a very successful vaccination session with Loughborough Schools Foundation, with more than 180 pupils taking up the opportunity. The team continues to explore a number of venues across city and county to ensure as many young people as possible can still receive their vaccinations despite Covid-19.

Suzanne Leatherland, community immunisations lead at the LPT said: “We are really keen to work closely with schools, families and the wider community to ensure young people don’t fall behind with their vaccinations. I’m absolutely thrilled that we have been able to work in partnership with LCFC this summer, and they have been so supportive and accommodating. Despite the constraints of Covid-19, we are working hard to plan for the running of our normal programmes from September, when all pupils will be back at school.”

Leicester City Chief Executive, Susan Whelan, said: “Promoting health and wellbeing, especially of young people is central to the ethos of the Club and a key part of our commitment to supporting our local community. We are delighted to have been able to work with our NHS colleagues from Leicestershire Partnership Trust to offer this vaccination opportunity to Leicester pupils.”

LPT’s Health for Teens website provides lots of information and myth-busting advice for young people about vaccinations, including a new video ‘HPV: Your Questions Answered’ featuring two immunisations nurses (www.healthforteens.co.uk/health/immunisation). More information about the schools vaccination programme is available at: www.leicspart.nhs.uk/service/communityimms, and you can contact the team by emailing communityimms@leicspart.nhs.uk.