Liverpool families are receiving a stark warning to take immediate action, as more than a quarter of children under the age of 5 have yet to receive both doses of the crucial MMR vaccine. The Liverpool City Council is emphasizing the critical need for families to ensure their children are fully vaccinated against measles, mumps, and rubella during World Immunisation Week (24–30 April). With only 73% of children in the city having received both doses of MMR, well below the national average of 84%, there is a significant risk of leaving vulnerable members of the community unprotected.
Serious illnesses like pneumonia, meningitis, and seizures can be caused by diseases such as measles. Measles can spread rapidly, especially among unvaccinated individuals, but the two doses of the MMR vaccine offer safe, effective, and long-lasting protection. Concerns are also rising about inadequate levels of protection against whooping cough among infants in Liverpool. Pregnant women can receive the vaccine during their 20-week scan to safeguard newborns during their early vulnerable weeks from this severe lung infection.
In order to ensure the safety of yourself and your baby, it is advisable to speak with your GP practice or midwife about vaccination during pregnancy. Alternatively, you can visit Liverpool Women’s Hospital Vaccination Clinics. It is crucial to contact your GP to confirm the status of your child’s vaccinations and schedule an appointment. To learn more about the routine childhood immunisation programme, visit the NHS website for information on vaccinations and when they should be administered.
Professor Matt Ashton, Director of Public Health, stressed the importance of maintaining up-to-date vaccinations, especially with the recent increases in measles and whooping cough cases nationwide. According to Nathan Askew, Chief Nursing Officer at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, measles and other childhood illnesses can be prevented through vaccination, preventing lifelong consequences and ensuring the health of families. This World Immunisation Week, it is imperative to protect your loved ones by getting vaccinated against measles and other childhood diseases
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