In a typical year, young people in Tameside receive vaccines protecting against meningitis, tetanus, diphtheria, polio, and cervical cancer, in schools. The timeliness of providing such vaccinations is increasingly important to keep school-aged children safe. The under-18 conception rate in Tameside girls aged 15-17 years is higher than the regional and England average.
With schools closed for much of the year during the COVID-19 pandemic, these important immunisations were being delayed. In January 2021, recognising the success of the COVID drive-through vaccination clinics, one of the team leaders within children’s services reached out to the local community and was able to source two sites to use free of charge to deliver drive-through immunisations to the young people of Tameside.
Just two weeks later, the first of many drive-through immunisation clinics took place. This innovative approach was supported by the school nursing team and local schools, using social media and school communications to get the message out to families in Tameside.
The team saw a fantastic response to this initiative, with excellent take up and very positive feedback from schools, families and the Tameside community.
1318 immunisations were delivered during term time, over 26 half day sessions, between 18 January 2021 and the 10 March 2021. Thanks to the efforts of all involved, the immunisations are on schedule to be completed by the end of the school year and the programme has enhanced relationships between school nurses, the immunisation team and schools.
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