Meningitis and diphtheria, tetanus and polio school leaver booster
Meningitis is inflammation of the lining of the brain. One of the most serious and common causes of meningitis is by meningococcal bacteria. As well as meningitis, meningococcal infection can lead to septicemia (blood poisoning), both of which can be very serious or fatal.
Teenagers and young adults are at higher risk of developing meningococcal disease and will be offered the vaccine that protects against four different types of Meningitis - A, C, W and Y at the same time as their school leaver booster in Year 9 onwards, or of the same age for home-schooled or alternative educational settings patients.
Diphtheria, tetanus and polio are rare now because of vaccination but they are very serious diseases. Your child will have been offered three doses as a baby and one pre-school booster. Sometimes known as the Teenage Td/IPV or School Leaver Booster, this should be young people’s 5th and final dose of this combined vaccination to protect them into adulthood.
The teams also offer catch-up clinics, so if a dose has been missed or delayed of these vaccines it can still be given. Any child from Year 10 onwards will still be eligible to receive the vaccines even if they missed them during the school sessions in Year 9. Please get in touch if you need to book into a community catch-up session.
Current and Prospective 2021/22 Academic Year (MenACWY & DTP)
| Meningitis ACWY & DTP (Yr 9 Students) | Starting December 2021 |
| Meningitis ACWY & DTP (Yr 9 Students) | Starting January 2022 |
Please note due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic those patients who missed their vaccination last year, or had their sessions delayed until September 2021 are still eligible to be vaccinated and will still be seen in either school sessions or invited to attend community catch-up clinics.
Further information about these vaccinations can be found on the main NHS.uk webpage for Meningitis - A, C, W and Y and DTP.
