03 May 2017
NSW Meningococcal immunisation Program for year 11 and 12 students 29th May 2017
NSW Health will be implementing a meningococcal ACWY school-based vaccination program targeting Year 11 and 12 students in secondary schools from Term 2 2017 that will provide protection against meningococcal serogroups A, C and Y as well as W. This is in response to the emergence of meningococcal W as a significant cause of invasive meningococcal disease in Australia in 2016. Evidence suggests that this strain of the disease is more severe than other types.
As such, the second vaccination clinic scheduled for this year will now be used to offer year 11 and 12 an opportunity to take advantage of the meningococcal immunisation. Year 7 will now continue their program in November 2017.
Advice to Year 7 Parents RE: Human Papilloma virus (HPV) Vaccination in 2017
In previous years, the HPV vaccine course has been given over a 12 month period, however, in 2017, the second dose of the HPV vaccine will be delayed until later this year to accommodate the introduction of the meningococcal ACWY Vaccination Program for students in year 11 and 12.
Scheduling the HPV course in this way will not reduce the effectiveness of the vaccines. Should you have any queries regarding this information, please contact the Penrith Public Health Unit on 47342022.