Drop-in childhood vaccination sessions taking place this summer

19 July 2022

Children and young people who are home-educated or not in education are invited to drop-in to Hywel Dda UHB’s Mass Vaccination Centres (MVCs) over the summer to access childhood vaccinations routinely offered through school nursing teams.

These drop-in sessions are also open to any Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire or Ceredigion school attendees who may have missed their vaccinations.

Bethan Lewis, Interim Assistant Director of Public Health for Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “Immunisation is important for children because it helps provide immunity before exposure to potentially life-threatening diseases. 

“Immunisation has helped rid the world of some very serious debilitating diseases. Polio and smallpox, for example, have now been eradicated thanks to vaccines. 

“It is important that all children have easy access to their scheduled vaccines and so we are pleased to offer these drop-in sessions.”

A parent or guardian able to provide consent must attend with the child/children.

Drop-in sessions for children aged 5 to 17 years of age will be held between 12pm and 6pm in the following locations:

• Aberystwyth MVC (Thomas Parry Library, Llanbadarn Campus, SY23 3AS) - Tuesday 2 and Tuesday 30 August
• Carmarthen MVC (Y Gamfa Wen, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, SA31 3EP) - Wednesday 3 August and Friday 2 September
• Cwm Cou MVC (Ysgol Trewen, SA38 9PE) - Monday 8 and Monday 22 August
• Haverfordwest MVC (Pembrokeshire Archives, SA61 2PE) - Wednesday 10 August and Wednesday 31 August
• Llanelli MVC (Dafen Industrial Estate, SA14 8QW) - Wednesday 27 July and Tuesday 23 August

Parents with queries about any aspect of their child's immunisations are also welcome to call in for an informal chat.

If you are unable to attend one of these sessions and have any queries or wish for your child to receive their scheduled vaccines, please complete the form available here https://hduhb.nhs.wales/healthcare/services-and-teams/immunisation-and-vaccination/childhood-and-young-people-vaccinations/vaccine-access-for-home-schooled-children (opens in new tab) or call 0300 303 8322 to be contacted by a member of the health board’s immunisation nursing team.

Notes to editor

The following vaccines will be available at each drop-in session:

• The HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine - routinely offered to all 12 and 13 year olds (school year 8)
• The 3-in-1 teenage booster - routinely offered to all young people in school year 9
• The MenACWY vaccine - routinely offered to all young people around 13/14 years of age (school year 9).
• The Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and 4-in-1 (DTaP/IPV) pre-school booster will be available at drop-in sessions for children aged 5 and over who may have missed having these at an earlier age with their GP. These are routinely offered through your GP. Please contact your GP if your child requires these vaccines and aged 3 years and 4 months to 5 years old.