Hertfordshire, East Anglia and BLMK community and school-aged immunisation service

  • The Hertfordshire, East Anglia and BLMK (Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes) community and school-aged immunisation service (CSAIS) offers the full UK vaccination programme to school-aged children and communities in Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Norfolk and Suffolk, and Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes.

    Here is the complete vaccination schedule:

    The complete routine immunisation schedule from September 2024 (publishing.service.gov.uk)

    For our programmes in schools, we follow a yearly programme and work with Vaccination UK (who deliver our influenza programme each year).

    For catch-up for all childhood vaccinations (including home-schooled young people) we hold community clinics or occasionally offer home visits in particular circumstances.

    We also provide BCG and At-Risk Hepatitis B vaccinations to babies and young children

    Contact details

    Hertfordshire 0300 555 5055 Option 1

     hct.csaisherts@nhs.net

    Norfolk 0300 555 5055 Option 2  hct.csaisnorfolk@nhs.net
    Suffolk 0300 555 5055 Option 3  hct.csaissuffolk@nhs.net
    Cambridgeshire & Peterborough 0300 555 5055 Option 4  hct.csaiscambspb@nhs.net
    BLMK

    0300 555 5055

    Option 5

    hct.csaisblmk@nhs.net
    Vaccination UK (Influenza only) 01462 341173  vaccinationhertfordshire@evguk.co.uk

    Vaccinations provided by our service

    School based vaccinations (also offered in community clinics for those who do not attend school or missed the school session)

    Human papillomavirus (HPV) – Across the academic year for year 8 pupils and across subsequent years for those that have missed it.

    Meningitis and diptheria tetanus and polio school leaver booster – Across the academic year for all year 9 pupils and across subsequent years for those that have missed it.

    Influenza – Available for school year groups as identified by NHS England each year. For the majority of students this will be a nasal spray.  However, there is an alternative injectable flu vaccine which may be offered to those young people who require it for medical reasons or due to religious beliefs. Please ask for more information at the vaccination session if you require this alternative. 

    Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) – Available to anyone who is missing the required 2 doses, and can be provided either in school or at a community clinic venue. 

    Further information about these vaccinations can be found below, or if you’d like to read more about the full childhood vaccination programme please visit NHS.uk - Vaccinations.

     

    Community based vaccination

    We are the main provider of the following vaccines:

    Tuberculosis (TB) BCG – If required for a newborn a notification is made to our service by maternity or other health care professional. For older children and young people, please speak to any health care professional involved in your care for referral into our service. 

    Hepatitis B vaccines – Available for those children on the selective HepB Pathway. Speak to your health care professional for further information. 

    Community catch-up

    A young person of any age missing vaccines can attend a community clinic for assessment and vaccination.

    Antenatal vaccines 

    Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) – due at 28 weeks gestation. You will receive a direct invite to book with our service either via SMS or telephone

    Pertussis - You will be offered this vaccine at your RSV appointment if missed at 20 weeks

    Influenza -  You will be offered this vaccine at your RSV appointment if your appointment falls in flu season

    What vaccines we provide

    Our programme covers the following vaccines, please click on the links to find out more about each one:

Contact the service

If you need to speak to someone in our teams to discuss your vaccination appointment or if you have an eligibility enquiry please get in touch:

Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire Community and School-Aged Immunisation Service
Telephone Number: 0300 555 5055 Option 1 – 8am to 4pm
Email: hct.csaisherts@nhs.net
Follow us on X: @HCTNHS

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Community and School-Aged Immunisation Service
Telephone Number: 0300 555 5055 (Option 2) – 8am to 4pm
Email: hct.csaiscambspb@nhs.net
Follow us on X: @CambsImmsTeam

Norfolk

Norfolk Community and School-Aged Immunisation Service
Telephone Number: 0300 555 5055 (Option 3) – 8am to 4pm
Email: hct.csaisnorfolk@nhs.net
Follow us on X: @ImmsNorfolk

Suffolk

Suffolk Community and School-Aged Immunisation Service
Telephone Number: 0300 555 5055 (Option 4) – 8m to 4pm
Email: hct.csaissuffolk@nhs.net
Follow us on X: @SuffolkImmsTeam

BLMK

Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes School-Aged Immunisation Service
Telephone Number: 0300 555 5055 (Option 5) – 8m to 4pm
Email: hct.csaisblmk@nhs.net
Follow us on X: @BLMKImmsTeam

Vaccination UK (Influenza School Vaccines)

Telephone Number: 01462 341173
Email: vaccinationhertfordshire@evguk.co.uk
Or visit their website: travelvaccination.co.uk

Who is eligible for the service

Eligibility for vaccination

If you have missed a vaccination or a session at school, do not worry, contact us on the details above. We can tell you when you can come  to one of our catch-up clinics, where we can check what vaccines have been missed and vaccinate.

Consent to be vaccinated

For those under the age of 16, parents, or adults with parental responsibility granted through court, must give consent for vaccination.

Parents/carers will receive the information from school, usually via the school’s email or text system, including instructions for giving or declining consent online via our accessible “E-Consent” process, as well as a closing date. Young adults over the age of 16 are able to give consent for themselves without requiring consent from their parents/carers.

It is important to remember to complete your consent form online even if you or your child is refusing to receive the vaccination with us. We can base future planning and changes to how vaccinations are provided from your responses and ensure our services meet your needs. You can change your consent/refusal at any time whilst the online portal is open using the link provided by your school – or if you need to urgently change this consent form and the portal is already closed for that session please call us on the Contact Us details listed above.

Occasionally, a young person under the age of 16 may request a vaccination without parental consent. In these circumstances a qualified clinician will make a thorough assessment of the young person’s understanding, knowledge and competence to make such a decision. If the decision is made that they have the right level of knowledge and understanding, and they cannot be persuaded to discuss it with their parents, the clinician may go ahead and vaccinate the young person, known as Gillick Competency.

What will happen at your appointment

In school-based vaccination sessions, children and young people will be called to the session in groups to be given their vaccinations on the day we visit their school.

Children absent on the day of the vaccination session may be able to be seen at a future session if the team have more than one session booked for the vaccine. Alternatively, you may have an invitation to book an appointment at one of our community clinics should you wish to catch up any missed school vaccines.

It’s completely natural that children might feel anxious about having their vaccines. Here is some advice on how to reassure your child about some common worries, and how best to look after them once they’ve had a vaccination. If you have anything that you or your child are about worried about, you can call the immunisation team.

Top tips

  • It helps to talk to your child about why they are having a vaccine. You could explain that it is only a few seconds only of discomfort and protects them from diseases that could make them very unwell.
  • If you can, make sure your child wears short sleeves on the day as this makes it much easier and quicker, and your child won’t have to undo/take their shirt off. 
  • Encourage your child to eat breakfast. Being anxious burns more calories and can cause a headache after they’ve had the injection.
  • If your child is anxious they could practice deep breathing to help them relax. They can use an app like Headspace, or count to 10 breathing slowly in through their nose and then out through their mouth.
  • The nurse will support your child and chat to them about the vaccination process.
  • Suggest that your child flicks the palm of their own hand – the sensation and length of time it lasts are similar to having an injection.

In community based vaccination sessions, you will be greeted by a member of our team, and given advice about where to go and how to prepare for the vaccine you or your child will be receiving.

Getting and feeling ready

  • The injection is not like a blood test. It is easier and much quicker.
  • It feels like a pinch or a cat scratch.
  • The needles are not huge - just long enough to get to the right place!
  • It’s much quicker than having a piercing or a tattoo.
  • The needle cannot break off in your arm and we can’t leave any part of it inside you.
  • Reactions to vaccines are very rare, and even more common ones tend to be mild and pass quickly.
  • The vaccine protects you, it doesn’t harm you – even if you feel sore or tired after the vaccination you’re not sick; it’s just your immune system working, and your body learning how to fight that virus in the future.

Aftercare

  • Your child will be advised to continue with their normal activities and to move their arm regularly after their injection. This will help to avoid the arm feeling stiff.
  • It is very common to experience mild side effects such as redness, pain and swelling at the injection site. Paracetamol can be taken if needed.
  • Your GP practice will be automatically notified that you’ve received a vaccination so that it can be recorded in your medical record at the GP – you don’t need to tell them separately.
  • If parents, carers or children have any concerns, they can contact the team via the details on our Contact Us page. Out of hours, advice should be sought from 111 or their GP if you feel you have had a reaction to a vaccine.

Patient experience

The Trust's Patient and Carer Experience Team supports everyone who uses our services to share their feedback and to work alongside the Trust departments to understand feedback and make improvements where necessary.

One of the tools we use is the Friends and Family Test; which is a national questionnaire designed to measure how well a service is performing and where there may be areas for improvement.

If you would like to know more about the Patient and Carer Experience Team please visit their homepage here.

Alternatively if you’d like to contact the teams directly:

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

Telephone Number: 0800 011 6113 / 01707 388164 - 10am to 2pm
Email: hct.patientexperienceteam@nhs.net

Raising a formal complaint and providing feedback

Telephone Number: 01707 388036 - 9.30am to 4pm
Email: hct.patientexperienceteam@nhs.net 

Hertfordshire, East Anglia and BLMK community and school-aged immunisation service

  • The Hertfordshire, East Anglia and BLMK (Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes) community and school-aged immunisation service (CSAIS) offers the full UK vaccination programme to school-aged children and communities in Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Norfolk and Suffolk, and Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes.

    Here is the complete vaccination schedule:

    The complete routine immunisation schedule from September 2024 (publishing.service.gov.uk)

    For our programmes in schools, we follow a yearly programme and work with Vaccination UK (who deliver our influenza programme each year).

    For catch-up for all childhood vaccinations (including home-schooled young people) we hold community clinics or occasionally offer home visits in particular circumstances.

    We also provide BCG and At-Risk Hepatitis B vaccinations to babies and young children

    Contact details

    Hertfordshire 0300 555 5055 Option 1

     hct.csaisherts@nhs.net

    Norfolk 0300 555 5055 Option 2  hct.csaisnorfolk@nhs.net
    Suffolk 0300 555 5055 Option 3  hct.csaissuffolk@nhs.net
    Cambridgeshire & Peterborough 0300 555 5055 Option 4  hct.csaiscambspb@nhs.net
    BLMK

    0300 555 5055

    Option 5

    hct.csaisblmk@nhs.net
    Vaccination UK (Influenza only) 01462 341173  vaccinationhertfordshire@evguk.co.uk

    Vaccinations provided by our service

    School based vaccinations (also offered in community clinics for those who do not attend school or missed the school session)

    Human papillomavirus (HPV) – Across the academic year for year 8 pupils and across subsequent years for those that have missed it.

    Meningitis and diptheria tetanus and polio school leaver booster – Across the academic year for all year 9 pupils and across subsequent years for those that have missed it.

    Influenza – Available for school year groups as identified by NHS England each year. For the majority of students this will be a nasal spray.  However, there is an alternative injectable flu vaccine which may be offered to those young people who require it for medical reasons or due to religious beliefs. Please ask for more information at the vaccination session if you require this alternative. 

    Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) – Available to anyone who is missing the required 2 doses, and can be provided either in school or at a community clinic venue. 

    Further information about these vaccinations can be found below, or if you’d like to read more about the full childhood vaccination programme please visit NHS.uk - Vaccinations.

     

    Community based vaccination

    We are the main provider of the following vaccines:

    Tuberculosis (TB) BCG – If required for a newborn a notification is made to our service by maternity or other health care professional. For older children and young people, please speak to any health care professional involved in your care for referral into our service. 

    Hepatitis B vaccines – Available for those children on the selective HepB Pathway. Speak to your health care professional for further information. 

    Community catch-up

    A young person of any age missing vaccines can attend a community clinic for assessment and vaccination.

    Antenatal vaccines 

    Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) – due at 28 weeks gestation. You will receive a direct invite to book with our service either via SMS or telephone

    Pertussis - You will be offered this vaccine at your RSV appointment if missed at 20 weeks

    Influenza -  You will be offered this vaccine at your RSV appointment if your appointment falls in flu season

    What vaccines we provide

    Our programme covers the following vaccines, please click on the links to find out more about each one:

Contact the service

If you need to speak to someone in our teams to discuss your vaccination appointment or if you have an eligibility enquiry please get in touch:

Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire Community and School-Aged Immunisation Service
Telephone Number: 0300 555 5055 Option 1 – 8am to 4pm
Email: hct.csaisherts@nhs.net
Follow us on X: @HCTNHS

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Community and School-Aged Immunisation Service
Telephone Number: 0300 555 5055 (Option 2) – 8am to 4pm
Email: hct.csaiscambspb@nhs.net
Follow us on X: @CambsImmsTeam

Norfolk

Norfolk Community and School-Aged Immunisation Service
Telephone Number: 0300 555 5055 (Option 3) – 8am to 4pm
Email: hct.csaisnorfolk@nhs.net
Follow us on X: @ImmsNorfolk

Suffolk

Suffolk Community and School-Aged Immunisation Service
Telephone Number: 0300 555 5055 (Option 4) – 8m to 4pm
Email: hct.csaissuffolk@nhs.net
Follow us on X: @SuffolkImmsTeam

BLMK

Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes School-Aged Immunisation Service
Telephone Number: 0300 555 5055 (Option 5) – 8m to 4pm
Email: hct.csaisblmk@nhs.net
Follow us on X: @BLMKImmsTeam

Vaccination UK (Influenza School Vaccines)

Telephone Number: 01462 341173
Email: vaccinationhertfordshire@evguk.co.uk
Or visit their website: travelvaccination.co.uk

Who is eligible for the service

Eligibility for vaccination

If you have missed a vaccination or a session at school, do not worry, contact us on the details above. We can tell you when you can come  to one of our catch-up clinics, where we can check what vaccines have been missed and vaccinate.

Consent to be vaccinated

For those under the age of 16, parents, or adults with parental responsibility granted through court, must give consent for vaccination.

Parents/carers will receive the information from school, usually via the school’s email or text system, including instructions for giving or declining consent online via our accessible “E-Consent” process, as well as a closing date. Young adults over the age of 16 are able to give consent for themselves without requiring consent from their parents/carers.

It is important to remember to complete your consent form online even if you or your child is refusing to receive the vaccination with us. We can base future planning and changes to how vaccinations are provided from your responses and ensure our services meet your needs. You can change your consent/refusal at any time whilst the online portal is open using the link provided by your school – or if you need to urgently change this consent form and the portal is already closed for that session please call us on the Contact Us details listed above.

Occasionally, a young person under the age of 16 may request a vaccination without parental consent. In these circumstances a qualified clinician will make a thorough assessment of the young person’s understanding, knowledge and competence to make such a decision. If the decision is made that they have the right level of knowledge and understanding, and they cannot be persuaded to discuss it with their parents, the clinician may go ahead and vaccinate the young person, known as Gillick Competency.

What will happen at your appointment

In school-based vaccination sessions, children and young people will be called to the session in groups to be given their vaccinations on the day we visit their school.

Children absent on the day of the vaccination session may be able to be seen at a future session if the team have more than one session booked for the vaccine. Alternatively, you may have an invitation to book an appointment at one of our community clinics should you wish to catch up any missed school vaccines.

It’s completely natural that children might feel anxious about having their vaccines. Here is some advice on how to reassure your child about some common worries, and how best to look after them once they’ve had a vaccination. If you have anything that you or your child are about worried about, you can call the immunisation team.

Top tips

  • It helps to talk to your child about why they are having a vaccine. You could explain that it is only a few seconds only of discomfort and protects them from diseases that could make them very unwell.
  • If you can, make sure your child wears short sleeves on the day as this makes it much easier and quicker, and your child won’t have to undo/take their shirt off. 
  • Encourage your child to eat breakfast. Being anxious burns more calories and can cause a headache after they’ve had the injection.
  • If your child is anxious they could practice deep breathing to help them relax. They can use an app like Headspace, or count to 10 breathing slowly in through their nose and then out through their mouth.
  • The nurse will support your child and chat to them about the vaccination process.
  • Suggest that your child flicks the palm of their own hand – the sensation and length of time it lasts are similar to having an injection.

In community based vaccination sessions, you will be greeted by a member of our team, and given advice about where to go and how to prepare for the vaccine you or your child will be receiving.

Getting and feeling ready

  • The injection is not like a blood test. It is easier and much quicker.
  • It feels like a pinch or a cat scratch.
  • The needles are not huge - just long enough to get to the right place!
  • It’s much quicker than having a piercing or a tattoo.
  • The needle cannot break off in your arm and we can’t leave any part of it inside you.
  • Reactions to vaccines are very rare, and even more common ones tend to be mild and pass quickly.
  • The vaccine protects you, it doesn’t harm you – even if you feel sore or tired after the vaccination you’re not sick; it’s just your immune system working, and your body learning how to fight that virus in the future.

Aftercare

  • Your child will be advised to continue with their normal activities and to move their arm regularly after their injection. This will help to avoid the arm feeling stiff.
  • It is very common to experience mild side effects such as redness, pain and swelling at the injection site. Paracetamol can be taken if needed.
  • Your GP practice will be automatically notified that you’ve received a vaccination so that it can be recorded in your medical record at the GP – you don’t need to tell them separately.
  • If parents, carers or children have any concerns, they can contact the team via the details on our Contact Us page. Out of hours, advice should be sought from 111 or their GP if you feel you have had a reaction to a vaccine.

Patient experience

The Trust's Patient and Carer Experience Team supports everyone who uses our services to share their feedback and to work alongside the Trust departments to understand feedback and make improvements where necessary.

One of the tools we use is the Friends and Family Test; which is a national questionnaire designed to measure how well a service is performing and where there may be areas for improvement.

If you would like to know more about the Patient and Carer Experience Team please visit their homepage here.

Alternatively if you’d like to contact the teams directly:

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

Telephone Number: 0800 011 6113 / 01707 388164 - 10am to 2pm
Email: hct.patientexperienceteam@nhs.net

Raising a formal complaint and providing feedback

Telephone Number: 01707 388036 - 9.30am to 4pm
Email: hct.patientexperienceteam@nhs.net