Which children should have the 3-in-1 teenage booster?

The 3-in-1 teenage booster vaccine is offered to all youngsters aged 13 to 18 years old. It's a routine immunisation offered as part of the NHS childhood vaccination schedule.

The 3-in-1 teenage booster is given as a single injection into the muscle of the upper arm to protect against diphtheria, tetanus and polio. It tops up the effect of the earlier baby and pre-school vaccinations against these diseases.

Who should not have the 3-in-1 booster?

There are very few teenagers who aren't able to have this vaccine, but it should be avoided by anyone who has had an anaphylactic reaction (a serious allergic reaction) to a previous dose of the vaccine, or a reaction to any part of the vaccine that may be present in tiny amounts, such as neomycin, streptomycin or polymixin B.

It's safe for teenagers with a minor illness, such as a cough or cold, to have the vaccination. However, anyone with a fever should delay their vaccination until they have recovered. This is to avoid wrongly associating any progression of the illness with the effects of the vaccine.

Combining the 3-in-1 teenage booster with other vaccines

The 3-in-1 teenage booster is usually given at school along with the Men C booster. It can also be given at the same time as other vaccines such as MMR, the flu vaccine or BCG – providing the vaccines are injected into different parts of the body.

 

Last Updated: 17/02/2022 16:09:11
The information on this page has been adapted by NHS Wales from original content supplied by NHS website nhs.uk