Parents in the Olympic boroughs are being encouraged to have their children vaccinated through a health drive aiming to increase the coverage of MMR vaccine in the capital’s children.
GP practices will send birthday cards to parents of newborns and children aged one and four years to promote health checks and vaccinations in a move to mirror a similar successful scheme elsewhere in the world.
The initiative, Celebrate and Protect, is aiming to increase coverage of MMR vaccine in London and establish a health legacy in the 12 Olympic boroughs.
Low uptake rates have been blamed for the recent outbreaks of measles in Wales and parents of partially or unvaccinated children aged 10-16 years are being recommended to seek MMR vaccination through their local GP.
Dr Tonia Myers, Clinical Director, NHS Waltham Forest Clinical Commissioning Group and a GP in Waltham Forest said:“Measles is a potentially serious, but entirely preventable disease. As we have seen in Wales, it can spread very quickly and even be life-threatening.
“The MMR jab is safe and the best way to ensure children do not catch measles, so local GPs fully support this summer’s vaccination catch-up programme.
“There are a number of local children who have not had the full course of MMR and are vulnerable to infection, but it is never too late to get vaccinated.
“If you are unsure whether your child has been fully vaccinated, please contact your local GP, who will be able to help.”
A Waltham Forest Council spokesperson said London is not currently in a measles outbreak situation and that the majority of cases recently reported in London have been associated with particular ‘at risk’ communities and there is no evidence of spread to wider communities.
The spokesperson added that it was not anticipated that London will experience a large scale outbreak.
The initiative is a partnership between the NHS, local authorities and bio-pharmaceutical company Sanofi Pasteur MSD.
Immunisation rates in Waltham Forest do not reach the World Health Organisation 95% recommended coverage and are below the national average.
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