Posted: Fri 20th Aug 2021

Parents in North Wales urged to ensure children are up-to-date with vaccinations before school starts

News and Info from Deeside, Flintshire, North Wales
This article is old - Published: Friday, Aug 20th, 2021

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Immunisation experts from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board are asking parents to ensure their children are up-to-date with vaccinations before they start school this September. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Children receive inoculations during their early months to help protect them against preventable diseases including polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, measles and mumps. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

They later need a four-in-one booster shot and second MMR jab – usually delivered aged around three years and four months – to be fully immunised. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Betsi Cadwaladr immunisation coordinator Leigh Pusey urged parents to make sure children preparing for their first day in class have received pre-school boosters to ensure protection against illness. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Leigh said: “When they start school in September, your child will mix with more children than before – often in classes and year groups which span dozens of households from across the whole community. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“As all parents know, small children play closely together and share toys, so illnesses can spread quickly. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Thanks to successful vaccination programmes, conditions like measles and mumps are very rare – but they can still be serious. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Any increase in person-to-person contact – like starting school – creates greater potential for these illnesses to circulate. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Our teams are vigilant, and immunisation take-up rates in North Wales are high. But, to be as safe as possible, we need to continue to maintain the highest levels of full immunisation we possibly can. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Please check that your child’s jabs are up to date. If they aren’t, it’s not too late to catch up – please make an appointment for them to receive the four-in-one pre-school booster and the second dose of the MMR vaccine from your health visitor as soon as you can.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​


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