Data published by the UK Health Security Agency shows that uptake of the adolescent vaccines offered to 13 and 14 year olds who were in School Year 9 during the 2021 to 2022 academic year has fallen leaving many young people unprotected from life-threatening diseases.
The teenage (Td/IPV) booster is the last routine dose for tetanus, diphtheria and polio, and provides young people with long lasting protection into adulthood. The MenACWY vaccine helps protect young people against four types of meningococcal disease.
These rare but serious diseases can cause life threatening illness leading to hospitalisation, permanent disability and even death.
Uptake of the Td/IPV and MenACWY vaccines for children in School Year 9 was 66%, much lower than the previous year and well below pre-pandemic levels across England (87.6% for Td/IPV and 88% for MenACYW in the 2018/19 academic year).
All the routine adolescent immunisation programmes have been impacted by the pandemic and coverage is not back up to pre-pandemic levels. UKHSA is urging parents and guardians to ensure eligible young people are up to date with their adolescent vaccines before they leave school.
Dr Vanessa MacGregor Consultant in Communicable Disease Control at UKHSA, East Midlands said: “It is very important to protect children and young people from serious life-threatening diseases.
Vaccines protecting against tetanus, diphtheria, polio and meningococcal disease are offered to young people in school Year 9 and are being delivered in schools right now.
In recent years we have seen vaccine uptake fall due to the challenges posed by the pandemic. Many young people who missed out on their vaccinations have already been caught up, but more needs to be done to ensure all those eligible are vaccinated.
Children and young people who have missed out on their teenage vaccines should contact their school nurse, school immunisation team or GP surgery to arrange a catch-up.
These vaccines offer the best protection as young people start their journey into adulthood and mixing more widely - whether going to college, starting work, travelling or going to summer festivals.”