Parents are encouraged to check vaccination records and book appointments during the remainder of the summer break.
Herefordshire parents and carers are being urged to use the final weeks of the summer holidays to ensure their children are up to date with routine vaccinations, as part of a renewed campaign to protect young lives and prevent the spread of serious illness.
Routine childhood vaccinations are the best line of defence against preventable diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, polio and whooping cough.
With schools set to reopen in September and seasonal illnesses expected to increase, timely immunisation is more important than ever.
Key reminders for parents and carers:
- Vaccinations are free and available through local GPs
- Delaying vaccines can leave children vulnerable to serious but preventable illnesses
- Immunisation helps protect the wider community, including babies and those who cannot be vaccinated
Young people starting college or university, should make sure they’ve already had:
- The MenACWY vaccine which protects against serious infections like meningitis and is available through a GP up until a young person’s 25th birthday
- Two doses of the MMR vaccine, as there are outbreaks of mumps and measles at universities. If you have not previously had two doses of MMR, you can still ask your GP for the vaccine.
- The HPV vaccine which helps protect against genital warts and cancers caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), such as cervical cancer.
Dr Padmanabhan Badrinath
Dr Padmanabhan Badrinath, Interim Consultant in Public Health Medicine at Herefordshire, said:
“We want all children to be safe and healthy at school and at home, so please take advantage of the rest of the summer break to check that your children are up to date with all their vaccinations, including MMR, before they return to the classroom.
“If parents are unsure about their child’s vaccination status, they can check the Red Book, the NHS app or contact their local GP surgery. It takes around two weeks post-vaccination to ensure strong protection, so it’s important that they book now.
“As children under one can’t receive the MMR vaccine, it’s crucial that older siblings are vaccinated to help protect them, as well as vulnerable individuals who may not be vaccinated due to a medical condition.”
Further information about childhood immunisations and when to have them is available on the NHS website.