Can Year 9 vaccinations be done at the GP instead?

[si67]

HI, my son is due his year 9 vaccinations but he has developed a strong fear of needles - for this reason he'd rather not go through the process in school, in front of his peers, as he may cry etc in any case the fear would be much exacerbated by the social setting. I have asked the GP if he could be vaccinated there instead and they refused because they say it should be paid by the school. Can they do that? Would they rather have an unvaccinated child?

If you mean HPV then yes.
My daughter had hers at the GP because she missed the school one.

Also the school doesn't pay 🤔

There are usually local clinics you can go to. Should be a list if you reply to the consent email

Well if he's off school on the day of the vaccines then what else can they do? Also, home school children have to get them somewhere. Clearly they can offer them in healthcare settings, it's just convenient to do it in schools.

If they really refuse then I'd just keep him off that day, say he was ill and missed his vaccinations, and get it at the GP/ hospital at a later date.

I would imagine this is area specific.
Speak to the school nursing service or vaccinations team direct.
When dd missed a vaccination because she was ill we went to a catch up clinic which they do in school holidays for those that missed it /phobias etc.

My DS was on an overseas choir trip and missed a school vaccination session (he was the only one from his year on the trip) and our GP did them when he got back.

I did have to contact the GP to explain, though, and ask if they could do it - it didn’t happen automatically.

I’d call the school nursing team, there should be a number on the letter you got about the vaccination, they will be the most likely to be able to help you.

My DS also didn't want his Yr9 vaccinations done at school, so I didn't complete the consent form and he went to school on the day and didn't have them done as he wasn't on the list.

Then a few days after I was emailed a list of catch up clinics by the vaccination team and I have booked him into a session at one of these in the May half term. So, if you just don't complete the form you will automatically be sent an email with instructions of how/where you can still get him vaccinated. At least that's how it's worked for me!

I’ve recently had this with my year 9 daughter. On the consent form there was a number to ring so I called to ask if it was possible to have it done at the GP surgery. I was told it is down to the surgery itself as the finding can be an issue. If our GP wouldn’t do it, she advised me they run clinics as catch ups for those unable to have the vaccination at school. Not ideal but better than being at school as I could be with her (and apply emla cream beforehand).

Thankfully our GP agreed to do it there, they were incredibly helpful and understanding towards my daughter. There were 2 nurses so both jabs could be done at the same time. I was really grateful for the kindness shown as my daughter has a terrible phobia and this was handled very sensitively.

Good luck, I hope you are able to sort this.

We have borough-wide catch up clinics during school holidays, or on a weekend shortly after a big vaccination campaign.

Hi. We always book direct with the catch up clinics (usually before the school have done theirs!). They've been brilliant with him. We are East Riding.

We used catch up clinics for needle phobic DD. I spoke to the team beforehand to discuss options and they were always very patient. Decline on the school consent form - if you decline they won't give it, but if you don't fill it in, technically they could ask consent from your ds and he may not feel strong enough to say no.

Our school nursing team run clinics for needle phobic children.
Our practice manager doesn’t like us doing these as we are not contracted to do them and our clinics are already rammed.
Yours may be different.
Practice nurse.

I enquired about this with my local gp and was told categorically no, it has to be school nursing team. Which is fine though. Easy enough to contact and they run frequent clinics which you can book through choose and book online once given a link. Usually at local community centre and hospitals on all days and times. So very easy ☺️

Our GP doesn’t do them, we have a dedicated immunisation team run by the ICB. A quick google should be able to point you in the right direction.

Most GPs won’t give school aged vaccines as they are not paid to do so. The school aged immunisation team are commissioned to give school aged injections.
They will have community weekend and half term clinics set up for children who have a fear of needles or miss the vaccines at school