Helpful Hints newsletter from the 0-19 Service at Sheffield Children's

December 2023

 

Welcome to the first Helpful Hints newsletter from the 0-19 Service at Sheffield Children's. This is a new newsletter which is written for parents and provides useful information each month. Please help us by sharing it through your school networks if you can.

The simplest way is to include this Mailchimp link in your next communication to parents.

HPV vaccinations in schools

Children in Year 8 will soon be offered the adolescent programme of vaccinations, which includes the Human papillomavirus (HPV vaccine)

The HPV vaccine has been offered to all girls in Year 8 for over ten years. Since September 2019, the vaccine has also been offered to Year 8 boys. This is because the evidence is clear that the HPV vaccine helps protect both boys and girls from HPV-related cancers and infection by the HPV.

This virus increases the risk of developing some cancers later in life, such as: cervical cancer, some mouth and throat cancers and some cancers of the anus and genital areas.

What difference has the HPV vaccine made so far?

More than 80 million people have received the vaccine worldwide. In time it is expected that the vaccine will save hundreds of lives every year in the UK. A recent Scottish study has already shown a 71% reduction in pre-cancerous cervical disease in young women. Since the start of the vaccination programme in the UK there has also been a decline in the number of young people with genital warts.

The risks of button batteries 

With Christmas round the corner this is an important time for families to understand the risks that button batteries in toys can pose to your child. They can be easily swallowed accidentally and can have serious consequences in some cases. Please see the information below from Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) which has helpful advice and tips on how to keep your child safe.

 
Choose well this winter

Over the Christmas period when the GP surgeries are closed, it can be a tricky time to know which service parents should go to if their child is ill. The link below has helpful information about how to manage childhood illnesses and has information specific to Sheffield about where parents can go for help.

Sheffield Children's also shares Choose Well information, to guide you on when to take your child to the GPs, Pharmacy, or Emergency Department if needed.

 
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Thank you,
The 0-19 Service at Sheffield Children's

This issue was written by Natalea Wiles from the School Age Immunisation Service, and Angela Phelps from the Paediatric Liaison Service.