Childhood immunisation nurses give up gifts to donate vaccines to UNICEF

Posted on: Monday 11 Dec 2017

Nurses who provide immunisations for children in North Yorkshire are giving up their Secret Santa gift giving and instead donating money towards vital vaccines through UNICEF to children in third world countries.

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust’s Childhood Immunisation team provides Meningitis, Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio vaccines to all children of school Year Nine age (13-14 year olds) across North Yorkshire and York.

The Childhood Immunisation team is a nurse led service that provides routine childhood immunisations for children and young people aged 5-19 years living in or attending school in North Yorkshire and the City of York.

The Childhood Immunisation service delivers routine immunisations in educational settings, and community clinics, these include:

  • Flu vaccinations for children in reception to year 4
  • HPV vaccinations to girls in year 8
  • Men ACWY vaccination for all children in year 9
  • DTP vaccination for all children in year 9
  • MMR vaccinations for any child aged 5-19

Lois Alderson, Clinical Lead, Childhood Immunisations North Yorkshire and City of York, said: “We decided that instead of doing the annual secret Santa we would donate what we’d otherwise spend on gifts to UNICEF. Many children in the third world do not have the opportunity to access basic health care such as vaccinations.

“Vaccinations are the biggest public health achievement since clean water, they save countless lives, prevent illness and disease. While we’re very fortunate that in the UK these vaccinations are offered free of charge, in many countries they can be very difficult to access.

“If you have a child in school Year Nine please visit www.hdft.nhs.uk/imms-consent to find out more and complete the online consent form so that your child can receive their vaccination in school.

“In the UK, diseases such as Polio have been eradicated, which is purely due to the vaccination programme the NHS offers. It is vitally important that children continue to be vaccinated against these diseases to prevent future outbreaks.

“Meningitis strain W is still on the rise in young adults and it is crucial that children in school are vaccinated to ensure they are protected against this deadly strain.”

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Paul Widdowfield, Communications and Marketing Manager, [email protected] and 01423 557470.

Photo: Pictured are Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust’s Childhood Immunisation Team.