Young people

Find vaccination information for all young people aged 16 – 25 years of age.

All young people from the age of 16 – 25 should have had all their childhood vaccinations. If you are unsure if you’ve had all the NHS recommended vaccinations during childhood please either contact your GP practice for your vaccination record or download the NHS App which may be able to advise which vaccines you’ve had.

It’s especially important that before younger people start college or university that they are fully protected against all preventable viruses. If you do require any top-up vaccinations contact your GP practice or visit one of our mobile vaccination clinics.

Important

If you’re starting college or university, you should make sure you’ve already had:

the MenACWY vaccine – which protects against serious infections like meningitis. You can still ask your GP for this vaccine until your 25th birthday.
2 doses of the MMR vaccine – as there are outbreaks of mumps and measles at universities. If you have not previously had 2 doses of MMR, you can still ask your GP for the vaccine.
the HPV vaccine – which helps protect against genital warts and cancers caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), such as cervical cancer.

HPV vaccine

The HPV vaccine helps protect against human papillomavirus (HPV). It’s recommended for children aged 12 to 13 years old and people at higher risk from HPV. However, girls under 25 and boys born after 1 September 2006 who missed having the vaccine at school can also have the vaccine.

What the HPV vaccine is for

The HPV vaccine reduces your chances of getting human papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus that’s spread through skin contact (usually when having sex).

Most types of HPV are harmless. But some types are linked to an increased risk of certain types of cancer, including:

· anal cancer

HPV can also cause genital warts.

HPV infection is very common. More than 70% of unvaccinated people will get it. Just one dose of the vaccine can help to reduce a young person’s risk of developing HPV-related cancers.

Click here to find out more about the HPV vaccine.

MenACWY vaccine

The MenACWY vaccine helps protect against life-threatening illnesses like meningitis and sepsis. It’s offered to teenagers in school, but can be given up to the age of 25 if it’s been missed.

The MenACWY vaccine protects against Meningitis, sepsis and septicaemia (blood poisoning), serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses that can lead to life-changing disabilities, such as amputations, hearing loss and brain damage.

Anyone can get meningitis but it’s most common in babies, children, teenagers and young adults.

Click here to find out more about the MenACWY vaccine.

Td/IPV vaccine (3-in-1 teenage booster) Vaccine

The Td/IPV vaccine (also called the 3-in-1 teenage booster) helps protect against tetanus, diphtheria and polio. It’s recommended for children in school year 9 and people at higher risk of these illnesses.

What the Td/IPV vaccine is for

The Td/IPV vaccine protects against 3 serious illnesses:

It boosts the protection provided by the 6-in-1 vaccine and 4-in-1 pre-school booster vaccine.

Who should have the Td/IPV vaccine

Children are given the Td/IPV vaccine (3-in-1 teenage booster) at around 13 or 14 years old (school year 9) as part of the NHS vaccination schedule.

If you or your child missed getting vaccinated, speak to your school nurse, or your GP surgery if you’ve left school, about getting vaccinated.

The Td/IPV vaccine is also given to adults at higher risk of tetanus, diphtheria or polio, such as:

people who need protection against these illnesses before travelling abroad (the vaccine may be recommended if you’re going to an area where it may be difficult to get medical help quickly and your last dose was more than 10 years ago)
people who have a large, dirty or deep wound that could mean they’re at risk of tetanus
people at risk of these illnesses through their work, such as some laboratory staff

Who cannot have the Td/IPV vaccine

Most people who need it can have the Td/IPV vaccine, including if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.

You only cannot have the vaccine if:

you’ve had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of the vaccine
you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to anything in the vaccine (including neomycin, streptomycin or polymyxin)

The vaccine may also not be suitable for you if you have a rare condition called phenylketonuria. Tell the person who’ll be vaccinating you if you have this.

More information: Td/IPV vaccine (3-in-1 teenage booster) – NHS