The school age immunisation service (SAIS) provide routine childhood vaccinations to children and young people from reception age to Year 11 in mainstream schools and up to age 25 in some special educational needs (SEN) schools.
The team work across Dorset offering vaccination in school and at a selection of community venues, ensuring all children receive the protection they need.
Our team in the East cover Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole, East Dorset and Purbeck, and our team in the West cover North Dorset, West Dorset, Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester.
Our nurses have expert knowledge in school age immunisations and the Dorset school age community, which enables us to deliver a high quality, responsive service across the county.
Our SAIS work closely with the school nursing teams as well as schools and other local partners to support parents, carers and all eligible children and young people to access immunisation opportunities to improve their chances of remaining healthy and to safeguard the public health of the population.
Vaccinations available
You can find details of the vaccinations given and when your child will be offered these vaccinations below.
Influenza (flu - nasal and injection for those children who cannot have the nasal vaccine)
The autumn vaccination programme will commence in September for all children in school and home-educated in year groups reception to year 11 and all children in special education schools.
Currently there’s an option for two- and three-year-olds to have the nasal flu vaccine in one of the Trust’s clinics. Please contact the school-age immunisation service via dhc.immsenquiries@nhs.net or look on www.nhs.uk/book-a-flu-vaccination for a clinic offering this near you. You can also call 01425 891162.
Tetanus/Diphtheria/Polio (TdIPV) and Meningitis ACWY (MenACWY)
The teenage booster programme started in January 2025 for all children in year 9, and for children in year 10 and 11 who have not received these vaccinations previously.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
The HPV programme started in March 2025 for all children in years 8, and for children in year 9, 10 and 11 who have not received this vaccination previously. This is now a one dose vaccination.
Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)
Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) will be offered to children in year 8 who have never received a MMR vaccination.
If your child is absent from school on the day of the immunisation, and you have completed the consent form for the vaccination, you will be emailed a link to arrange an immunisation appointment in a local community venue.
The flu vaccine can protect children against the strains of seasonal influenza.
The flu vaccine is offered to all children form Reception to year 11 and all young people in special educational schools up to 25 years.
The nasal vaccine is given as a single spray up each nostril. It is quick and painless. The vaccine is absorbed very quickly. It will still work even if, after the vaccination, your child develops a runny nose, sneezes or blows their nose.
For children who are unable to have the nasal spray, we are able to offer the injectable vaccine
The MenACWY vaccine protects against four common groups of meningococcal disease – MenA, MenC, MenW and MenY. The disease is rare but life-threatening and caused by meningococcal bacteria.
It’s given to children in school year’s 9 or 10 (aged 13-15 years) in the upper arm.
If your child has missed this vaccination in years 10/11 this can be offered in school or a community clinic once you have completed a consent form.
All students in year eight and above are eligible to get their HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) vaccine.
The good news is, just one vaccination dose can help to protect you from HPV for life.
All students from the 1 September 2023 only require one dose of HPV vaccine.
Why get the HPV vaccination?
HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection. With the right vaccination, you can reduce your risk of developing HPV related cancers like penile, anal, vaginal, cervical, and throat cancer and genital warts.
The good news is, just one vaccination dose can help to protect you from HPV for life.
HPV infection is common—more than 70% of unvaccinated people will get it. It spreads through close skin-to-skin contact, and while condoms and dental dams help reduce the risk, they don’t provide full protection.
The vaccination is a quick, safe way to help keep you healthy.
It’s recommended for young people and people at higher risk from HPV.
Already vaccinated? Women who’ve had the vaccine should still attend cervical screening (smear tests) from the age of 25, as this is another vital way to stay healthy
MMR is a safe and effective combined vaccine that protects against 3 separate illnesses – measles, mumps and rubella (German measles) – in a single injection. The full course of MMR vaccination requires 2 doses.
To ensure your child is vaccinated you are required to give consent. Our service works on a digital consent process. This enables parents, carers and guardians to give consent on any device, including a smart phone.
If we do not have consent via the online consent form your child will not be vaccinated.
For any queries re consent or your child’s vaccination, please e-mail us at dhc.immsenquiries@nhs.net or phone us on 01425 891162.
Primary school age flu clinics
We offer the flu vaccine for children in reception to school year 11. For those in special educational schools, up to and including age 25
Most children will receive the flu nasal spray, however some children may require the inactivated flu injection
Clinics open around mid-September.
Parents will receive an offer letter by email from their child’s school with a link to the flu clinics. If you do not have access to the original offer email, you can phone the main SAIS office on 01425 891162 or email dhc.immsenquiries@nhs.net and book your child in when clinics open. You need to book into these clinics, as we do not accept walk-ins.
Secondary school flu clinics
We will be offering the flu vaccine from years 7-11 in secondary schools from mid-November. Special Educational schools up to and including age 25.
Parents will receive an offer letter in their emails from their child's school, click the link to consent and book your child into a clinic at the school.
If you need support to book or have any queries about the upcoming clinics dates please phone the main office on 01425 891162 or email dhc.immsenquiries@nhs.net
Dorset HealthCare will automatically contact and send email communication in connection with our immunisation service to one parent or guardian only. This will be to the parent that has identified themselves as the main point of contact or where they have been identified to the Trust as the parent or guardian with parental responsibility on a child’s medical record.
The Trust cannot copy other parents or guardians into any communication about their child’s immunisation as a matter of routine. Where custody or parental responsibility is decided by a court or in the process of being decided by a court the Trust will rely on the judgement or direction of the court or responsible Local Authority where the child is a Looked After Child under local authority.
