Council partners with PHA to encourage MMR vaccinations in children and young adults

An MMR vaccination catch-up campaign aimed at curbing the growing threat of measles was recently announced by the PHA. First and second doses of the MMR vaccine will be offered to anyone aged between 12 months and 25 years who missed getting the vaccines first time around. The MMR catch-up campaign will run until 31 March 2024. Those who have never received any doses of MMR vaccine should book early to allow one month between dose one and dose two before the end of March.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Valerie Harte said, “We are keen to support the latest PHA catch-up campaign. Vaccination rates are low for the MMR vaccine and measles is highly contagious and is a potentially deadly disease, but two doses of the MMR vaccine provides the best protection against these diseases. It takes just a few minutes of your time to get your little ones vaccinated, so please get them vaccinated and protect your loved ones from Measles, Mumps and Rubella. If you would like more information about the vaccine, please talk to your GP, practice nurse or pharmacist.”

After a worrying drop in uptake in recent years and a growing number of measles cases in the UK and Europe, the PHA is urging parents to get their children vaccinated.

Dr Joanne McClean, Director of Public Health at the PHA, said: “As a whole the childhood vaccination programme has been a success, with Northern Ireland traditionally having uptake rates above the UK average, which is why we have seen very few cases of illnesses such as measles compared with the rest of the UK. However, some vaccines have seen a decline in uptake in recent years, which risks a return of some of the diseases that they offer protection against.

“The diseases that these vaccines protect against can be life-changing and even deadly. No parent wants this for their child especially when these diseases are easily preventable. The vaccine is proven to be safe and has been used since the early 1980s. Please don’t put the MMR vaccine off, check now that your children are fully up to date with their MMR. Check your child’s red book and get in touch with your GP practice if you are not sure.”

In the Newry Mourne and Down area, MMR vaccination is free with the first dose being offered when a child is one year old and the second when they are 3 years and 4 months old. Receiving both doses provides long-lasting protection.

Any children or young adults up to the age of 25 who missed getting the vaccines first time around will have the opportunity to receive it now. Children between 12 months and 5 years of age can get the vaccine through their GP practice and those aged 6 years to 25 years of age can attend an HSC Trust vaccination clinic.

For information on the Trusts’ MMR Vaccinations clinics please access the following links:

Southern Health and Social Care Trust visit https://southerntrust.hscni.net/news/vaccination/mmr/

South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust visit https://setrust.hscni.net/about-the-trust/measles-mumps-and-rubella-mmr-vaccination/