Screening and Vaccinations
Screening
Screening is a way of checking your health to spot problems early, even if you feel well.
The NHS offers screening at different times in your life to help keep you healthy. Finding problems early can mean they are easier to treat, or you can get support to stay well.
Screening is offered to people who are most likely to benefit. For example:
- Newborn babies are checked soon after birth
- Adults may be invited for checks like breast screening or other health tests later in life
Vaccinations
Vaccines are one of the best ways to protect you and your family from serious illness.
They have saved millions of lives around the world. Because of vaccines, diseases like polio are now very rare, and some have disappeared completely in the UK.
Vaccines work by teaching your body how to fight off infections. This means if you come into contact with a disease later on, your body already knows how to deal with it.
It is much safer to learn how to fight a disease through a vaccine than by catching the illness itself.
Vaccines can give you long-lasting protection, helping to keep you well for years.
All vaccines used in the UK are carefully tested to make sure they are safe and work well for both children and adults.
Hints, Tips and Resources
Local services
Breast ScreeningBreast screening starts for women between the ages of 50 and 53, you should receive an appointment for this without asking. You will then be invited every 3 years for breast screening until you turn 71. You need to be registered with a GP surgery to be invited for breast screening. Find out more click hereSave Breast Screening to favourites
Cervical Cancer Prevention Week 22nd-28th JanuaryScreening finds abnormal cell changes, including the ones that are most likely to become cancer. These cells can then be treated. This is an effective way of preventing cervical cancer. Cervical screening is important to have, even if you have had the HPV vaccination. Find out more click here Save Cervical Cancer Prevention Week 22nd-28th January to favourites
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) screeningAbdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening is a test to check if there's a swelling in your aorta, which is the main blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the tummy (abdomen). AAA screening is offered to all men over the age of 64. Anyone assigned male at birth who is over the age of 64 can have it. Find out more click hereSave Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) screening to favourites
Lung Cancer ScreeningNHS Targeted Lung Health Checks is a new national cancer screening service to check if you have lung cancer. It is available to everyone who is registered with a Sunderland or South Tyneside GP, is aged between 55 and 74 years of age and who is a current or ex-smoker. Find out more click hereSave Lung Cancer Screening to favourites
