MMR catch up - vacinate your children at School

---

School children given information urging their parents to vaccinate them

The information leaflet, which is accompanied by a parental-consent form, is part of the MMR Capital Catch-up Campaign to protect children’s health through a primary schools-based vaccination programme.

Across London, only 58% of 5-year old children are fully protected against measles, mumps and rubella. The World Health Organisation recommends immunity levels of around 95% to prevent outbreaks of disease.

Dr John Thomas, Public Health Consultant for Wandsworth PCT, said: “In Wandsworth only 54% of 5-year old children have had both MMR doses. This means that a large number of local children are susceptible to these diseases and that the risks of an outbreak are high. By immunising primary school children we can not only prevent the spread of infection in schools, but also in the wider community as primary school age children often pass the infection to younger siblings.

“Parents will receive information about school nurse led MMR immunisation sessions to be held in the New Year at their child’s school. Children need two doses of MMR to give them full protection from these serious diseases and so this is a good opportunity for children to have either their first or second dose. If this is their first dose then parents will be asked to make an appointment with their GP to complete the vaccination”.

The MMR Capital Catch Up Campaign was launched in response to estimates that around 90,000 primary school children across London are currently susceptible to measles. Children will only be vaccinated with their parent’s consent.

                                         

December 22, 2004