Life in Salford 27 • November 2019 21
Protect your children Schoolgirls and boys in Year 8 are being offered a vaccine which can protect them against five or more cancers.
The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is being offered free by the NHS to 12 and 13 year olds to protect against infections and cancers caused by the virus. The HPV virus is very common and there are many types. Some cause infections which clear up on their own and cause no problems. Others cause infections such as warts or verrucas while others are classified as high risk because they are linked to the development of cancers such as cervical cancer, cancers of the genital area and some head and neck cancers.
Girls and boys will be offered two doses of the HPV vaccination, the second of which is normally offered six months after the first. It’s important to have both doses to be protected. Girls (only) who missed their HPV vaccination in school year 8 can continue to have the vaccine up to their 25th birthday. Please speak to your GP about this. For more information please see www.nhs.uk/ conditions/vaccinations/hpv-human-papillomavirusvaccine/
Get your child’s oral health off to a good start Half of Salford children start school with tooth decay which could be prevented. Having a tooth removed is now the most common reason for young children to go into hospital in Greater Manchester and costs the NHS £20 million every year.
That’s why Salford City Council and the NHS are working in partnership with early years providers to establish good oral hygiene routines nursery and school children. The supervised tooth brushing scheme trains a network of ‘dental champions’ to improve dental care for under-fives while children aged two to five will learn how to brush their teeth and receive supervised tooth brushing daily in their nursery or school. It’s all about sparing young children pain, sleepless nights and missed days of school which are just some of the consequences of poor dental care. The scheme is free to all private, voluntary, independent and local authority nurseries and schools in Salford which have children aged two to five years old. Over 9000 Salford children are now benefiting from brushing their teeth daily in their nursery or school with a fluoride toothpaste. Check with your child’s nursery or school that they aren’t missing out.
