Don’t stop attending ‘life-saving’ vaccination appointments for your children over fears about coronavirus, NHS warns parents
- Parents are being urged not to stop attending ‘life-saving’ vaccination appointments for their children over fears about Covid-19
- NHS England says that routine jabs such as those for MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) are essential in preventing other serious diseases
- Vaccinations like the MMR jab can save a child’s life, but in recent years the influence of so-called antivaxxers may have played a part in a decline
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Parents are being urged not to stop attending ‘life-saving’ vaccination appointments for their children over fears about Covid-19.
NHS England says that routine jabs such as those for MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) are essential in preventing other serious diseases that could place health services under more pressure.
It added that as long as those with scheduled vaccinations do not have symptoms, or are not self-isolating because someone in the household is displaying symptoms, all appointments should go ahead as normal.
Public Health Minister Jo Churchill stressed that people should not be deterred from going to get vaccinations, and that attending medical appointments is classed as essential travel.
A practice nurse giving a little girl an NHS 4-in-1 pre-school booster vaccine
‘Vaccines help protect all of us from preventable outbreaks of infectious diseases like measles which can have devastating consequences,’ she said.
‘If you need to visit your GP, parents should be reassured that going to a medical appointment is classed as essential travel as long as no one in the household is displaying Covid-19 symptoms.’
People are reminded that when going to appointments, they should follow government guidance and ensure they are two metres apart from others and minimise time spent outside.
‘Children should continue to go to their routine vaccination appointments when they are invited by their GP,’ added Ms Churchill.
Vaccinations like the MMR jab can save a child’s life, but the NHS says that in recent years the influence of so-called antivaxxers may have played a part in a decline in uptake.
The treatments are available through family doctors, including in some parts of the country through new children’s immunisation drive-through clinics.
Dr Nikita Kanani, NHS England Medical Director for Primary Care, said: ‘While the NHS is taking unprecedented measures to protect people from coronavirus, local services are working hard to ensure that people including babies, children and pregnant women still receive their routine vaccinations.
‘They provide essential protection against potentially life-threatening diseases.’
The NHS recently launched a nationwide campaign to encourage those concerned or afraid to seek help during the ongoing pandemic to seek help.
Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisations at Public Health England, said: ‘The national immunisation programme remains in place to protect the nation’s health and no one should be in any doubt of the devastating impact of diseases such as measles, meningitis and pneumonia.
‘During this time, it is important to maintain the best possible vaccine uptake to prevent a resurgence of these infections.’