About us

The South London Children and Young People’s Community Immunisation Service (CYPCIS) delivers all school-age immunisation across south London, in Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Richmond, Southwark, Sutton and Wandsworth.

Reasons for providing vaccination in school:

  • It prevents children/young people contracting vaccine preventable diseases.
  • School based immunisation help ensure as many children/young people are reached and offered protection as possible.
  • Immunisations protect those in the community (through herd immunity) who are vulnerable, who may not be able to have vaccinations, i.e. new-born babies, elderly and those with a low immunity due to health reasons.
  • It prevents children/young people missing school or parents/guardians taking time out of work or from busy lives for a vaccination appointment.
  • It prevents children/young people who are well entering a GP surgery.

Our highly trained and friendly immunisations nurses provide support and advice on school age immunisations and will be able to direct you to further information so you and your child can make an informed choice about planned vaccination(s).

More information

See the NHS website for more information on the UK routine vaccination schedule.

You can also view the following leaflets for more information about vaccinations at various stages of a child’s life:

Consent (written or verbal) must be obtained before starting any patient care, including the administration of vaccines. The immunisation team encourages parents and guardians to be involved in their child’s care by discussing the vaccinations with them, and by returning a completed consent form to school.

A letter providing vaccine information and the consent form are sent from the school to parents and guardians as the vaccinations are due. In addition, we provide age-appropriate information regarding the relevant vaccinations to schools to be shown to children and young people, so that they can understand the vaccine. In secondary schools, our immunisations nurses may attend school to give a presentation on the planned vaccines.

Self-consent

Our ultimate aim is to prevent young people getting vaccine-preventable diseases. Therefore, in secondary schools we will invite children to the vaccination room if they have not returned a consent form. This is so we can try to contact the parent or guardian to discuss the vaccine with the young person present.

In the absence of a signed consent form, and if unable to contact the parent or guardian, we will assess the young person for self-consent. Not all young people will be competent enough to self-consent – it is assessed on an individual basis by an immunisation nurse. The final decision to consent or refuse vaccination is the young person’s choice – we will not give a vaccination where it is not wanted by the young person.

Children under the age of 16 years can consent to their own treatment if they are believed to have enough intelligence, competence and understanding to fully appreciate what is involved in their treatment. To assess the young person’s ability to self-consent, we use the Fraser Competence guidelines. More details about these guidelines can be found on the NHS website.

Consent must be:

  • Voluntary – the decision to either consent or not to consent to treatment must be made by the person themselves and must not be influenced by pressure from medical staff, friends or family.
  • Informed – the person must be given all of the information in terms of what the treatment involves, including the benefits and risks, whether there are reasonable alternative treatments, and what will happen if treatment doesn't go ahead.
  • Capacity – the person must be capable of giving consent, which means they understand the information given to them and they can use it to make an informed decision.

BCG tuberculosis vaccine

We provide the BCG vaccination to babies from birth to 12 months old, living in Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Hounslow, Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth who have a parent or grandparent born in a country where the annual incidence of TB is 40 in 100,000 or greater. See more information on our BCG vaccination webpage.

MMR catch-up

All children and young people need to be up to date with their childhood vaccination schedule to protect them against a range of preventable diseases. We are contacting the parents of all children whose records identify they are not up to date with their MMR vaccinations.

Measles cases are currently on the rise in the UK, and the best way to ensure protection for your child is to have them vaccinated with the MMR vaccine.

The MMR vaccine provides protection against measles, mumps, and rubella (also known as German measles). To be fully protected against these diseases, your child must have two doses of the vaccine.

Measles

The virus can be spread very easily by airborne or droplet transmission. Symptoms include a rash, fever, cough and watery eyes. Measles also can cause pneumonia, brain damage, seizures or death.

Mumps

Spread by airborne or droplet transmission causes fever, headaches and swollen salivary glands under the jaw. May develop a mild meningitis. It can also result in permanent hearing loss and serious complications particularly in males.

Rubella

The virus usually causes mild sickness with fever, swollen glands and a rash. If a pregnant woman gets rubella, she can lose her baby, or the baby can be born blind, deaf, or with heart defects or other serious problems.

By the time a child is 11 years old, they should have received two does of the MMR vaccine, as part of the UK routine immunisations schedule.

If young people have not received two doses of the MMR vaccine by the time they reach year 9, they may be offered a dose alongside their other year 9 vaccinations.

The service is offering catch-up appointments for children who are partially vaccinated or may not have received any of these vaccinations.

If you believe your child is not fully vaccinated against either polio or measles, mumps or rubella, you can must book a catch-up appointment. You can do this by either:

There are two different MMR vaccines available in the UK. These are called Priorix and MMRVaxPro. To learn more about the ingredients in these vaccines please see the manufacturers guides below:

The main ingredient in both of them is small amounts of weakened measles, mumps, and rubella viruses. The MMRVaxPro vaccine contains a small amount of porcine gelatine to ensure the vaccine remains safe and effective. If you or your child would prefer to recieve a vaccine that does not contain porcine gelatine, please let the immunisation nurse know. They will be able to give you the Priorix vaccine, which is porcine gelatine-free.

To book an appointment at one of our upcoming clinics, please call 020 8487 1730 or email HRCH.Immunisationcallcentre@nhs.net. If you cannot make these dates, you can book an appointment for MMR and Polio vaccines through your GP surgery.

For more information about the MMR vaccine please see the NHS website.

You can also watch this series of NHS videos to explain the importance of the MMR.

You can also download the MMR for all leaflet (available in a range of languages) for more information on the MMR vaccine.

Secondary school vaccinations

Young people are offered three vaccinations at secondary school, alongside their annual flu vaccine. The HPV vaccine is offered initially in year 8, and the MenAWCY and DTP vaccines are offered initially in year 9. If your student misses these vaccines, they can catch-up at any point during their school career at one of our community clinics. Details of these clinics can be found at the bottom of the page.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the name given to a very common group of viruses. It can be caught from any kind of sexual contact with another person who already has it. There are more than 100 different types of HPV – most are harmless, but some types are linked to increased risk of certain types of cancer, including:

  • Cervical cancer
  • Mouth cancer
  • Anal cancer
  • Penile cancer
  • Some cancers of the head and neck

HPV can also cause genital warts. Please see the NHS website for more information on HPV.

HPV is very common, and as HPV infections do not usually cause any symptoms, often people will not know they’re infected. Most people will become infected with HPV at some point in their lives, and their bodies will get rid of it naturally without treatment. However, in some cases the infection stays in the body for many years, and then, for no apparent reason, starts to cause damage.

The HPV vaccine protects against nine types of HPV. Types 16 and 18 are the cause of most cervical cancers in the UK (more than 70%) and HPV types 6 and 11 cause around 90% of genital warts. In addition, some of the anal and genital cancers, and cancers of the head and neck, are also caused by HPV infection which the vaccine helps protect.

HPV vaccination does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections, so it is still very important to practice safe sex. For girls, it is still very important to have regular cervical screening (also known as a smear test) from 25 years old, as this helps to detect cell changes.

The vaccine used is called Gardasil 9. For more information, please see the manufacturers guide.

From September 2019, both boys and girls aged 12 to 13 years old (in year 8 at school) will now be routinely offered the HPV vaccination. From September 2023, the number of doses recommended has been reduced from two to one.

Girls who missed their HPV vaccination in year 8 can continue to have the vaccine up to their 25th birthday. Those who start the HPV vaccination after the age of 15 will need 3 doses to have full protection. Please contact your GP is you are a female between 18 and 24 years old, and would like your HPV vaccine. From 25 years old, you will be invited for cervical screening.

A catch-up programme for older boys is not necessary as evidence suggests they're already benefitting greatly from the herd protection that has built up from 10 years of the girls' HPV vaccination programme.

The HPV vaccine is most effective if received before girls and boys come into contact with the virus – so before they are sexually active. 

After the vaccination is administered, the young person will be given a certificate with the date and name of the vaccination received, along with information about potential side effected of which you should be aware. The certificate should be kept in the young person’s health record (red) book as a record of vaccination.

You can find more information on the HPV vaccine on the NHS website.

Alternatively, please watch the HPV video designed to inform both parents and young people about the importance of the HPV vaccine.

You can also download this leaflet on the HPV vaccination (available in a range of languages) for more information.

The 3-in-1 teenage booster, also known as the school leavers booster or Td/IPV vaccine is given to boost protection against 3 separate diseases: tetanus, diphtheria and polio. Your child should have received protection against these diseases during their vaccinations when they were:

  • 8 weeks old
  • 12 weeks old
  • 16 weeks old
  • 3 years and 4 months old

Tetanus

Tetanus is caused by a poison produced by a germ found in soil, dust and manure that can enter the body through a cut, wound or any break in the skin. Tetanus causes serious, painful spasms of muscles and can lead to "locking" of the jaw so a person cannot open his or her mouth, swallow, breath or move.

Diphtheria

Diphtheria is a highly contagious infection that affects the nose and throat, and sometimes the skin. It can be a serious illness and sometimes fatal, especially in children if it is not treated quickly. It is easily passed to others through coughing and sneezing.

Polio

Polio is a serious infection which can cause long-term or lifelong difficulties. It is spread easily from person to person, usually through contact with the poo of an infected person.

These infections are now rare in the UK due to the vaccination programme. However, it is important that children and young people continue to receive their vaccinations against these diseases to protect them. It is especially important to receive your vaccinations if you travel to countries where these diseases are more common.

The vaccine used is called Revaxis. For more information, please see the manufacturers guide

The MenACWY vaccine protects against four different strains of the meningococcal bacteria (A, C, W and Y) which can cause meningitis and septicaemia.

Meningitis is caused by the lining of the brain becoming infected and swollen. It can be very serious if not treated quickly, and can cause permanent damage including:

  • Hearing or vision loss
  • Seizures or epilepsy
  • Loss of limbs through amputation

The meningitis viruses are usually spread by people who carry the viruses or bacteria unknowingly in their nose or throat, but aren't ill themselves. This can be transmitted through sneezing, coughing, kissing, sharing utensils, toothbrushes etc.

Septicaemia is a type of blood poisoning, which is extremely serious. If it not treated quickly, it can cause organ failure.

The vaccine used is called Nimenrix. For more information, please see the manufacturers guide.

Both the 3-in-1 teenage booster and the MenACWY vaccination are offered to young people between 13 and 14 years old, in year 9 at school. They are offered as two vaccines in the upper muscle of the arm.

Parents will receive a consent form from school before the School Age Immunisation Service are due to visit. After the vaccination is administered, the young person will be given a certificate with the date and name of vaccination received, along with information about potential side effects that the young person and parent/ guardian should be aware of. The certificate should be retained in the young person’s health record (red) book as a record of vaccination.

Young people aged 16-25 should contact their GPs to ensure they receive the vaccine if they have not had it in the last 10 years.

Both the 3-in-1 teenage booster and MenACWY are highly effective at providing protection against the above diseases.

There may be some side effects from receiving these vaccines, but these are mild and pass soon. The most common include:

  • Redness or soreness around the vaccination site
  • High temperature or headache
  • Feeling sick or tired.

Please see the NHS website for more information on the 3-in-1 teenage booster and the MenACWY vaccination.

You can also download these leaflets (available in a range of languages):

Influenza (flu) vaccine

All children from reception to year 11 will be offered the flu vaccination through a nasal spray. It is painless, very quick to administer, and serious side effects are uncommon.

By having the flu vaccination, children are less likely to pass the virus on to family and friends. This will help to protect those who are at greater risk from flu, including infants, older people and those with an underlying health condition. In addition, it will prevent time off school and work for family members who have to care for their child whilst unwell.

Influenza (flu) is a common infectious viral illness. You can catch flu all year round, but it is especially common in winter. You can catch flu many times because flu viruses change regularly, and so your body won’t have a natural resistance to the new versions.

Flu can be very unpleasant in children and young people, sometimes even causing serious problems such as pneumonia and bronchitis. Flu is very infections and can easily spread to other people through germs in coughs and sneezes. These germs can live on hands and surfaces for 24 hours.

The flu vaccine changes every year, based on research as to which strain of flu virus will be most common. Protection from the flu vaccine goes down over time and the types of flu the vaccine protects against are updated each year. This is why it's important to get the flu vaccine every year. The children’s flu vaccine aims to protect children against the most common types of flu viruses. There is still a chance your child might get flu after getting vaccinated, but they’re less likely to become seriously ill, or need to go to hospital.

All children from reception to year 11 will be offered the flu vaccination through a nasal spray. It is painless, very quick to administer, and serious side effects are uncommon.

By having the flu vaccination, children are less likely to pass the virus on to family and friends. This will help to protect those who are at greater risk from flu, including infants, older people and those with an underlying health condition. In addition, it will prevent time off school and work for family members who have to care for their child whilst unwell.

The nasal flu vaccination contains a small amount of gelatine from pigs (porcine gelatine). The flu vaccine injection is available, which does not contain gelatine. If you would prefer your child to receive the flu vaccine injection, please mark clearly on the consent form you receive from your child’s school.

For more information about the ingredients in the two different flu vaccines, please see the manufacturers guides:

Please see below the 2024/2025 Flu consent forms which you can complete to have your child vaccinated at school.

To book an appointment at one of these clinics, please call 020 3903 3380

  • Saturday 9 November, 10:00 – 14:00, Danson Community Centre, DA7 4EZ
  • Saturday 16 November, 10:00 – 14:00, BCI Chislehurst Clinic, BR7 5AB
  • Saturday 23 November, 10:00 – 14:00, Danson Community Centre, DA7 4EZ
  • Saturday 30 November, 10:00 – 14:00, BCI Chislehurst Clinic, BR7 5AB
  • Saturday 14 December, 10:00 – 14:00, Danson Community Centre, DA7 4EZ
  • Wednesday 18 December, 15:00 – 16:30, Erith Health Centre, DA8 1RQ
  • Thursday 19 December, 15:00 – 16:30, Erith Health Centre, DA8 1RQ

To book an appointment at one of these clinics, please call 020 3903 3375.

Saturday 9 November, 09:00 – 14:00, BCI Chislehurst Clinic, BR7 5AB

Saturday 16 November, 11:00 – 15:00, The Glades Health Hub, BR1 1DN

Saturday 23 November, 09:00 – 14;00, BCI Chislehurst Clinic, BR7 5AB

Saturday 30 November, 11:00 – 15:00, The Glades Health Hub, BR1 1DN

Saturday 7 December, 09:00 – 14:00, BCI Chislehurst Clinic, BR7 5AB

To book an appointment at one of these clinics, 020 3903 3360

To book an appointment at one of these clinics, 020 3903 3345

To book an appointment at one of these clinics, please call 020 3691 1043

  • Saturday 11 November, 09:00 – 13:00, Southborough School Clinic, KT6 5AS
  • Saturday 14 December, 09:00 – 13:00, Sheen Lane Clinic, SW14 8LP

To book an appointment at one of these clinics, please email HRCH.lewishamimms@nhs.net   

To book an appointment at one of these clinics, please call 020 3903 3373

  • Saturday 23 November, 10:00 – 14:00, Elmwood Centre, CR4 3NT
  • Saturday 7 December, 10:00 – 14:00, The Scout Hall, SM1 4JN

To book an appointment at one of these clinics, please call 020 3691 1043

  • Saturday 11 November, 09:00 – 13:00, Southborough School Clinic, KT6 5AS
  • Saturday 14 December, 09:00 – 13:00, Sheen Lane Clinic, SW14 8LP

To book an appointment at one of these clinics, please call 020 3903 3371

  • Saturday 23 November, 10:00 – 14:00, Elmwood Centre, CR4 3NT
  • Saturday 7 December, 10:00 – 14:00, The Scout Hall, SM1 4JN

To book an appointment at one of these clinics, please call 020 3903 3374

  • Friday 1 November, 10:00 – 14:00, St John’s Therapy Centre, SW11 1SW