Parents in South Yorkshire have been urged to vaccinate their children in preparation for the new school year.
The MMR and 4-in-1 pre-school booster vaccinations are offered to children before they have started school.
The 4-in-1 pre-school booster is offered to children aged 3 years and 4 months before they start school to provide long-term protection against 4 serious illnesses:
- Diphtheria
- Polio
- Tetanus
- Whooping Cough
Families of children that have missed the 4-in-1 pre-school booster should contact their GP as soon as possible as children can still have the vaccination until the age of 10.
The MMR vaccine is given to babies and young children to protect them against measles, mumps and rubella. These illnesses are serious and can develop into blindness, meningitis and hearing loss.
Cases of measles have risen in the UK, with cases in all regions of the country. It is fundamental that children are given the MMR vaccine to give them the best protection possible.
Dr David Crichton, Chief Medical Officer, NHS South Yorkshire said:
“The MMR and 4-in-1 pre-school booster vaccines are a crucial line of defence for our children.
“Due to the increasing number of infections and the potential severity of the related illnesses, I urge all parents, carers or guardians to get their children vaccinated.”
This Autumn school-age children will be offered a nasal flu vaccine, with most children being offered the vaccination at their school.
If your child misses the vaccination at school or if they are home-schooled they should be offered a flu vaccine at a community clinic. Your child’s school will be able to provide details of the school vaccination team.
As the colder months get closer, and children return to school we urge all parents, carers and guardians to make sure their children’s vaccinations are up to date.