Teenagers at risk of rare diseases after drop in vaccine take-up

Teenagers could beryllium astatine hazard of uncommon diseases aft a drop-off successful vaccinations during the Covid pandemic, UK wellness officials are warning.

In 2021-22, 69% of 13 and 14-year-olds received a jab protecting against tetanus, diphtheria and polio - down 7% connected the erstwhile year.

Another vaccine, against meningitis, besides saw a akin autumn successful uptake.

Parents are being urged to marque definite young radical are up to day with their vaccines earlier they permission school.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said galore of those who had missed retired connected vaccines due to the fact that of schoolhouse closures successful the pandemic had present been immunised.

But vaccine sum remains inactive beneath pre-pandemic levels.

UKHSA advisor epidemiologist Dr Vanessa Saliba said children and young radical who had missed retired connected their teenage vaccines should interaction their schoolhouse nurse, schoolhouse immunisation squad oregon GP country to put a catch-up.

"These vaccines connection the champion extortion arsenic young radical commencement their travel into adulthood and mixing much wide - whether going to college, starting work, travelling oregon going to summertime festivals," she said.

The three-in-one booster against tetanus, diphtheria and polio is escaped connected the NHS to each 14-year-olds, done their school.

It is besides fixed to babies astatine 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 16 weeks old, and earlier they spell to school. All 5 doses are important for gathering up semipermanent protection.

The MenACWY vaccine is besides routinely offered to teenagers of the aforesaid age, but anyone up to the property of 25 tin inactive get it done their GP. It protects against 4 strains of meningitis.

Before the pandemic, uptake for these vaccines was astir 88% successful England, but latest figures amusement that dipped to 69% for 13 to 14-year-olds successful 2021-22.

Uptake among Year 10 schoolhouse pupils, who are aged 14 to 15, was higher astatine astir 78% which shows much children are catching up connected missed jabs.

Steve Russell, nationalist manager for vaccination and screening, said the vaccines were "extremely well-researched" and proven to supply extortion against a scope of superior diseases.

The HPV vaccine is besides offered successful secondary schools and protects against a scope of cancers.

"We powerfully impulse those eligible and their household members and guardians to guarantee they are up to date, and if not to travel guardant for their vaccines arsenic soon arsenic imaginable - it's the champion mode to support you protected," helium said.

Last week the UN bureau Unicef said determination were worrying signs that assurance successful life-saving puerility vaccines was slipping worldwide, partially due to the fact that of vaccine hesitancy and disinformation.