Meningitis ACWY and Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio vaccination

Dear Parent/Carer, 

The Meningitis ACWY vaccination helps to protect your child against four types of meningococcal  bacteria (groups A, C, W and Y) that can cause meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain)  and septicaemia (blood poisoning). These diseases are very serious and can be fatal in some cases,  especially if not diagnosed early. During this school year, children in year 9 will get the vaccine  routinely along with the DTP (Diphtheria, Tetanus & Polio). 

If you would like more information, please visit  

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/pages/men-acwy-vaccine.aspx where you can find  information about the disease and the vaccine. If you would like to discuss the vaccines with a  nurse, or if you require help to complete the form, please contact your immunisation team in your  child’s school area below. 

We hope that this information addresses any concerns you or your child might have about the  vaccination and you will feel confident that having the Meningitis ACWY vaccine will help to protect  your child against a very serious illness. 

If this is NOT your child’s 5th dose of diphtheria, tetanus and polio vaccine, they will need to have  one or more follow up doses to complete the course to ensure that they have full immunity. Please  arrange to have this with your child’s GP 4 weeks after the dose they receive in school. – 

Please complete the online consent within 1 week so your child can be given the vaccine when our  team are in school. The person who has parental responsibility must sign the consent form. 

To complete the consent please click here. 

It is important to complete the consent even if you do not want your child to have it. If you choose not to complete the consent, this does NOT mean that you have refused the  vaccine. 

To refuse the vaccine, please complete the online consent and choose the option ‘I do not consent’. 

Please note: young people under the age of 16 can give or refuse consent themselves if considered  competent to do so by nursing staff. More information about the vaccine can be found on our  website: https://www.schoolvaccination.uk/dtp-meningitis-acwy 

We encourage you to have a conversation with your child and share this information with them,  prior to us visiting the school. 

If you would like to discuss the vaccine with a nurse, or if you need help to complete the online  consent, please contact the immunisation team in your child’s school area. Their contact details are  on the next page. 

Please see below for information regarding how we use your child’s data, and additional information  about the vaccine. 

Yours Faithfully, 

Amanda Schiller 

Clinical Director 

PDF of full letter click here