School Aged Immunisation Service: teenage booster and MenACWY vaccinations information hub for parents and carers of secondary school children

All secondary school aged children in years 9 and above are being offered two important vaccinations in school during the spring/ summer term as part of the national vaccination programme.

Those vaccinations are:

  • the 3-in-1 teenage booster vaccine (Td/IPV), which protects against tetanus, diphtheria, polio
  • the meningitis ACWY vaccine, which protects against meningitis types A, C, W and Y. 

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust’s school aged immunisation service (SAIS) will be visiting schools from March 2026 until Friday 12 June 2026 to offer young people aged 13-14 -years-old the vaccinations. Young people over the age of 14, in older year groups, and who still need the immunisations will also have the chance to be vaccinated.

About tetanus, diphtheria, polio

Tetanus is a painful disease affecting the nervous system which can lead to muscle spasms, cause breathing problems, and can kill. It is caused when germs found in the soil and manure get into the body through open cuts or burns. Tetanus cannot be passed from person to person.

Diphtheria is a serious disease that usually begins with a sore throat and can quickly cause breathing problems. It can damage the heart and nervous system, and in severe cases, it can kill.

Polio is a virus that attacks the nervous system which can cause permanent paralysis of muscles. If it affects the chest muscles or the brain, polio can kill.

About meningitis types A, C, W and Y

Meningococcal disease is rare but very serious and requires urgent hospital treatment. It can lead to life-changing disabilities such as amputations, hearing loss, brain damage and scars. It is caused by meningococcal bacteria which are divided into several groups. The most common are A, B, C, W and Y. Infants, young children, teenagers and young adults have the highest risk of meningococcal disease.

Meningococcal bacteria can cause meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain) and septicaemia (when the bacteria enter the bloodstream to cause blood poisoning). Both diseases are very serious and can kill, especially if not diagnosed early. Both meningitis and septicaemia can trigger sepsis. Sepsis is an overwhelming and life-threatening immune response to any infection and can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and death.

About the vaccines

The 3-in-1 teenage booster vaccine (Td/IPV) and meningitis ACWY vaccine are free, safe and effective. They are being offered to complete the protection your child was offered as part of the baby vaccination programme.

The vaccines are given quickly into the upper arm and both only require one dose while your child is in secondary school. 

The 3-in-1 teenage booster vaccine used is called Revaxis. The vaccine for the Meningitis ACWY vaccine is MenQuadfi . 

Information leaflets and links

How to give or refuse consent

Parents and carers will be sent a link to fill out an online consent decision form to their phone number or email address.

Please make sure you fill out the form to register your vaccination consent or refusal.

Text messages will be sent from NHS UK and emails will be sent from Vaccinations in Schools. If you do not fill out your form after receiving the first messages, you will also be sent reminders.

If you need to speak to the service, please call them on 0300 300 0007 or email lpt.sais@nhs.net with your contact details.

Self-consent

Vaccinations will be prioritised for those young people whose parents or carers have provided parental consent.  Young people may be offered the opportunity to self-consent on the day if we do not have parental or carer consent on our record, but this cannot be guaranteed. The ability to offer self-consent will depend on the session running order and capacity of the vaccination team.

Self-consent will only be offered to young people aged 13 years and above, who have read the appropriate vaccination information and who are assessed by a health professional as having enough understanding to fully appreciate what’s involved.

If parents or carers have responded and refused consent, we will not offer self-consent or vaccinate your child.

We always encourage young people and their parents and carers to have a conversation about the vaccination on offer, so you can all be aware of each other’s wishes.

Resources for young people

Video explainers

This video by nurse, Gail, provides more information about the vaccinations.

This video explains about the self consent process.

This video for young people explains more about the 3-in-1 teenage booster and MenACWY vaccinations.

Frequently asked questions

What are the side effects?

Like all medicines, this vaccine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Young people may develop a slight redness on the injection site and some soreness or swelling on the arm. This usually passes in a couple of days. More serious side effects are extremely rare. For more information, please read the vaccine product leaflets.

My child is really scared of needles. Is there any support available?

Yes. Please let our service know and our team will do their best to support your child. You can also view our needle phobia tips document.

What if my child is absent or unwell on the day the school aged immunisation service visits?

Details of any additional opportunity for a vaccination will be sent via email.

Will the MenACWY vaccine protect my child against all types of meningitis?

No, the MenACWY vaccination does not protect against all types of meningitis. The MenACWY vaccine is given to teenagers and helps protect against four types of bacteria linked to meningitis. They are the A, C, W and Y strains – which are some of the most common. Although the vaccine is very effective, it does not prevent all types of meningitis, so it’s still important to be aware of the symptoms of meningitis even if you’ve been vaccinated.

Meningitis B outbreak in Kent: frequently asked questions

Where can I check my/ my child’s vaccination history?

You can check your and your child’s vaccination history in several ways:

  1. Using the NHS app – find out more on the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/help/vaccinations/view-vaccinations/
  2. By contacting your, or your child’s, GP
  3. The school aged immunisation service will be able to provide you with details of any recent vaccinations that your child has had. Please note the service does not have access to historical vaccination data.

Were can I go to find out more about meningitis?

To find out more about meningitis, please visit the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/meningitis/

Alternatively, the UKHSA has a blog post on its website:  What is meningitis? Symptoms, risks and how to protect yourself – UK Health Security Agency

Will the MenACWY vaccine protect my child against the same type of meningitis from the Kent outbreak?

Investigations confirmed some of the cases from the meningococcal disease outbreak in Kent in March 2026 were group B meningococcal disease.

The MenACWY vaccination does not protect against all types of meningitis. The MenACWY vaccine is given to teenagers and helps protect against four types of bacteria linked to meningitis. They are the A, C, W and Y strains – which are some of the most common.

Although the vaccine is very effective, it does not prevent all types of meningitis, so it’s still important to be aware of the symptoms of meningitis even if you’ve been vaccinated.

Do you offer the MenB vaccine as part of the school immunisation programme?

We do not currently offer the MenB vaccination as part of the school immunisation programme.

The MenB vaccine is offered to babies aged 8 weeks, followed by a second dose at 12 weeks and a booster at 1 year as part of the NHS vaccination schedule.

Help and support

If you have any questions, please contact the School Aged Immunisation Service on 0300 3000 007.

Close search menu

Search

Refreshing...
      Refreshing...