Vaccination for school age children and young people

n the current routine immunisation schedule for Wales, there are four vaccines that are routinely offered to school age children and young people:

All school age children (from reception to year 11):

• Flu 

School year 8 (12 to 13 year olds):

• HPV 
• MenACWY
• Teenage 3-in-1 booster

Children and young people who are not in school, including those who are educated at home, may be offered the above vaccines at their GP surgery or in a community vaccination centre when they are due.

Children and young people with certain medical conditions may also be offered other vaccines. Some vaccines that were missed earlier in life may also be offered again to children and young people to ensure they are protected before they leave school.

Flu is a virus that can lead to serious illnesses and death. There are flu outbreaks most winters and the virus is constantly changing. Each year, flu vaccines are changed to match the flu viruses which are going around that year, so that people get the best protection from flu. 

All children and young people in primary school and secondary school (from reception to year 11) will be offered a flu vaccination each winter. This is usually offered as a spray up the nose (nasal spray). Children who are unable to have the nasal spray due to medical or other reasons are offered the flu vaccine by injection in the upper arm. 

For more information about the Flu vaccination programme visit Flu vaccine.

All young people (boys and girls) aged 12 to 13 (school year 8) will be offered the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. This vaccine helps protect against future risks of HPV-related cancers such as: 

• cervical cancer 
• some head and neck cancers 
• some cancers of the anus, and 
• some cancers of the genital area (for example, the penis, vagina and vulva). 

HPV lives on the skin and is spread by skin-to-skin contact. Getting the vaccine as a young person protects against future risks. 

Head and neck cancers are most common in males, with around 700 men diagnosed in Wales each year. 

HPV vaccination cuts the risk of cervical cancer by 90%. It also dramatically lowers the rates of other types of HPV related cancers. 

Young people who miss their HPV vaccination at school can still have it up to their 25th birthday. 

For more information about the HPV Vaccine visit Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

All young people aged 13 to 14 (school year 9) will be offered the meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y vaccine (MenACWY). This is the safest and most effective way to help protect against meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) and sepsis (a life-threatening reaction to an infection that can harm your whole body), caused by four groups of meningococcal bacteria – A, C, W and Y. 

The MenACWY vaccine is usually given at the same visit as the teenage 3-in-1 booster vaccine.  In most areas in Wales, these vaccines are offered together in school. In a few areas where the vaccines are not given in school, they will be offered at the GP surgery or a community vaccination centre. 

Young people who miss their MenACWY vaccination at school can still have the vaccine up to their 25th birthday.  

The MenACWY vaccine does not protect against Meningococcal group B disease. For more information on protection from MenB for young people, visit MenB vaccine for young people. 

For more information about the MenACWY vaccination, visit MenACWY vaccine. 

All young people aged 13 to 14 (school year 9) will be offered the teenage 3-in-1 booster (also known as Td/IPV) vaccine which protects against tetanus, diphtheria and polio. This vaccine completes a 5-dose course which gives most people lifelong protection against tetanus, diphtheria and polio. 

Tetanus and diphtheria are serious diseases that can damage the heart and nervous system. Polio is a virus that attacks the nervous system and can cause permanent paralysis of muscles. In severe cases, these diseases can kill. 

The teenage 3-in-1 booster is usually given at the same visit as the MenACWY vaccine. In most areas of Wales, these vaccines are offered together in school. In a few areas where the vaccines are not given in school, they will be offered at the GP surgery or a community vaccination centre. 

The number of routine doses recommended for children and young people born after 1 July 2025 has increased to six. This is due to changes to the routine childhood immunisation schedule that aims to ensure the necessary protection for younger children for other diseases. You can read more about these changes at Changes to the childhood immunisation schedule.

Young people who miss their teenage 3-in-1 booster vaccination remain eligible to get the vaccine. It’s never too late to get up to date.   

For more information about the teenage 3-in-1 booster, visit Td/IPV (3 in 1 teenage booster) vaccine. 

The MMR vaccine is the safest and most effective way to help protect against measles, mumps and rubella. Two doses are needed for the best protection. Children are usually offered both doses before they start school. 

If you or your child missed an MMR vaccination, it is not too late to catch up. There is no age limit. Having two doses gives you the best protection against these highly infections diseases. 

From 1 January 2026, the routine vaccination schedule was changed to include protection against chickenpox (also known as varicella). A new combined vaccine called MMRV was introduced to help protect against measles, mumps, rubella and varicella. 

The NHS in Wales is offering a one-off chickenpox vaccination programme for eligible children.   The programme runs from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2028.  

Children born between 1 January 2020 and 31 August 2022, are being offered one dose of the MMRV vaccine. This is to help protect them against chickenpox infection and its complications.  

Chickenpox (also known as ‘varicella’) is a common infection. It spreads very easily from person to person. Most children get better quickly, but some can become very unwell and may need hospital treatment.  

Children who have not had chickenpox or been vaccinated against chickenpox, are at risk of catching the infection.  The MMRV vaccine also helps stop chickenpox from spreading to other people.  

This one-off vaccination programme is intended for children who:  

• have not had chickenpox, or 
• have not received two doses of a chickenpox vaccine.  

You can find more information about this programme, at Measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV and MMR) containing vaccines.

It’s a good idea to check that all other routine childhood vaccinations are up to date. Some vaccinations which are missed earlier in life may be offered to your child as a teenager in school or via their GP surgery or community vaccination centre. If you are unsure if your child has missed any vaccinations, and is older than the recommended age, talk to your school nurse, immunisation team, GP or practice nurse. 

Each time vaccinations are offered to your child in school, you will be asked to complete a consent form to give permission for your child to have the vaccination. This may be electronically or a paper consent form. You should fill in the consent form(s) and return as soon as possible by the required date.  

Young people aged 16 and over can consent for themselves. In some cases, young people under the age of 16 may be able to give consent themselves. This can happen if they are mature enough to fully understand what is being offered.  This is called Gillick competence (external site). It is still preferred that parents/guardians are involved. We encourage you to talk to your child about the vaccination before the session.  

Most children receive the routine vaccines offered as part of the childhood vaccination schedule in Wales. However, some children with certain health conditions may be offered extra vaccines to help give them more protection against serious illnesses.  

Your GP surgery will advise if any additional vaccines are recommended. 

• Supporting the administration and management of childhood vaccination programmes delivered in schools 
• Guidance for childcare, preschool and educational settings
• Health protection in children and young people settings (including education)  

• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination: Briefing document  
• Teenage 3-in-1 booster and MenACWY: Briefing document     
• Flu vaccination programme – briefing document for education 
• Measles and the MMR/MMRV: Briefing document 

• School communication toolkit for HPV
• University vaccine communications toolkit (external site) 

VPDP have worked with children and young people to create a series of vaccination resources specifically for schools and school staff.  

• What is the HPV vaccine? 
• What is the teenage 3-in-1 booster vaccine? 
• What is the MenACWY vaccine? 
• What is the flu vaccine?