A new national campaign has launched urging parents to ensure their child is up to date with their MMR (Measles, Mumps & Rubella) vaccinations, as well as other routine jabs. The campaign aims to reverse falling vaccination rates nationally and to protect everyone from a resurgence in these highly contagious and potentially very dangerous diseases.
Children in England are offered the MMR vaccine in two doses, the first usually between 12 and 13 months, and the second at 3 years 4 months. The target for coverage of both MMR doses by the age of five years is 95%. However, the latest coverage figure for England is 86.6%, with a rate of 75% in London and just 68% in Haringey.
Parents who are unsure if their child is up to date with all their routine vaccinations, should check their child’s Red Book (personal child health record) in the first instance.
If unclear, GP practices are able to carry out checks and book appointments if required. The NHS is open and ensuring that your child is up to date with their vaccines is very important. The MMR vaccines can be given at any age, if missed out during infancy.
The past two years have been very difficult for everyone and young people have had a lot of disruption to their education and their lives.
More than 1.9 million doses of the life-saving COVID-19 vaccine have now been given to young people aged 12 to 15, protecting them and their families. The virus has not gone away. Infection rates are high. Young people are missing out on their education, work and their lives because of COVID-19-related illness. And we are still learning about the long-term damage the virus can do.
Healthy Start paper vouchers will soon be replaced with a prepaid card as the NHS introduces a new digital service. The NHS Healthy Start scheme helps those who are pregnant or have at least one child under four years of age, and are claiming a qualifying benefit, to buy healthy food and milk and access free vitamins. The new prepaid cards will be topped up automatically every four weeks and can be used in any retailer that accepts Mastercard ® and sells the eligible Healthy Start food and milk items.
The NHS has launched a new national campaign urging parents to ensure their child is up-to-date with their MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccinations, as well as other routine jabs. The campaign aims to reverse falling vaccination rates nationally and to protect everyone from a resurgence in these highly contagious and potentially very dangerous diseases.
Winter is a time when many young children suffer from winter viruses and chest infections. This can be worrying for parents and carers, but help is at hand! The ‘Boloh’ helpline, run by Barnardo’s and funded by NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care, is a safe space for families with young children experiencing coughs, colds and chest infections this winter.