Help us advocate the vital importance of childhood immunisation.
Vaccination is the most important thing we can do to protect ourselves and our children against ill health.
However, if people stop having vaccines, it’s possible for infectious diseases to quickly spread again. We are now seeing diseases like measles spreading in our communities and last year evidence from sewage samples suggested polio was spreading too.
Vaccination rates for measles and polio vaccinations in north east London are both 77%, but vary by area and by community, and they are well below the WHO target of 95% coverage.
It is really important that all of us who work with parents and children in the NHS in north east London remain strong advocates for vaccination.
Below are some links to further information you can use to inform your discussions with parents and direct people towards for further information.
Information for clinicians
Most routine vaccinations that will protect your child from diseases including measles, mumps, diphtheria, polio and tetanus are given by your GP before they start school. However, you can catch up at any time if your child has missed vaccinations and you can easily check if you aren’t sure.
You can search ‘NHS child vaccines’ online or visit nhs.uk/child-vaccines to see which vaccinations are given when. You can check your child’s health record (red book) or contact your GP to see if they are up to date.
Your GP can also arrange for you to catch up with vaccinations. If your child had first vaccinations abroad it is important you still have routine vaccinations here, and your GP can help arrange that.
If you’re not registered with a GP, you can register online . Anyone can register and you don’t need ID or proof of address.
Information about why vaccines are safe and really important is here: https://lnkd.in/dVipvXy
Information for clinicians
The Green Book has the latest information on vaccines and vaccination procedures, for vaccine preventable infectious diseases in the UK. The Green Book is the single most important professional resource on vaccinations in the UK and health professionals and immunisation practitioners can keep up to date with developments in the field and updates to the Green Book through regular Vaccine Update newsletters.
In specific reference to measles and the MMR vaccine. See chapter 21 of the Green Book. It states “there is now overwhelming evidence that MMR does not cause autism.”
Thank you for your support on our journey to vaccinate every eligible child in north east London
Diane Jones Chief Nursing Officer of NHS North East London
