Getting vaccinated at school
Information for young people about what having a vaccine at school will be like.
When do Year 8 students get the vaccine?
The school will let everyone know when the immunisation team are coming to give the HPV vaccine. They will also let everyone know where in the school they need to go to.
What happens before someone gets the vaccine?
The nurse will check the consent form.
They will ask the young person a few questions to make sure it is safe for them to have the vaccine.
The young person can ask the nurse any questions they have too.
In this video, young people share what it’s like getting the HPV vaccine in school.
Does it hurt?
The injection only takes a few seconds.
Someone might feel a short sharp scratch. Sometimes someone’s arm feel sore for a day, but it usually goes away quickly.
The nurses are kind and will help you feel at ease.
What if someone is feeling nervous about getting the vaccine?
That’s totally normal. Lots of people feel that way.
Some tips to help:
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Tell a teacher or nurse – they might let you go first so you’re not waiting.
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Take deep breaths to stay calm.
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Try counting backwards from 100 to distract yourself.
Young people share some tips to help when other young people getting the HPV vaccine.
What should someone wear to get the vaccine?
Someone should wear a short-sleeved top so the arm is easy to get to.
If someone is wearing long sleeves, that’s okay too. The nurses will make sure their privacy is respected when they have the vaccine.
Where in someone’s body will the injection go?
The HPV vaccine goes into the muscle at the top of the arm.
Young people can let the nurse know if they would prefer to have it on their left or right arm. It’s a good idea to use the one they don’t write with.
Can someone have the vaccine another way?
Unfortunately not. The HPV vaccine must be given as an injection into the arm.
That’s the best and safest way for it to work.
What happens after the vaccine?
Once someone has had the HPV vaccine, they can go back to class as normal. They do not need to miss school the next day.