Immunisation figures are in need of a boost

PARENTS in North East Lincolnshire are being urged to check their children's vaccinations are up to date before school starts next week.

Last year, only 85 per cent of children in the borough had their pre-school boosters – 10 per cent below the World Health Organisation's recommendation.

GET YOUR JABS: Raj Medical Centre GP partner Dr Marcia Pathak wants to encourage parents to bring their children in for vaccinations, as uptake in the area is alarmingly low. Picture: Abby Ruston

Now health experts within the NHS are calling on parents to help reduce the risk of childhood diseases such as mumps and measles spreading.



Dr Marcia Pathak, of Raj Medical Centre on Laceby Road, is also the lead for women and children's services for the General Practice Commissioning Consortia across North East Lincolnshire.

She is concerned as continuous weekly figures from the Child Health Department reveal a declining uptake in children's immunisations throughout the county.
She said: "Having 95 per cent of the population vaccinated means there are enough people protected to stop a disease from spreading and causing an outbreak.

"However, this is not the case across North East Lincolnshire. For example only 88 per cent of children have had their MMR vaccinations.

"This is very worrying as it means some are not protected if they come into contact with someone carrying a disease.

"It is the easiest way for an outbreak to develop, especially at school when children are all together."

Dr Pathak is particularly worried about the children registered at the Raj Medical Centre as figures there are alarmingly low.

She said: "This clinic has 376 children registered but new figures show only 66 per cent have so far had their first MMR vaccinations which are due at the age of 12 to 13 months.

"Also only 74 per cent of children at the centre have had, or have started, their meningitis vaccinations.

"These are all well below the average 95 per cent of children protected to prevent an outbreak from occurring.

"We have tried our best here at the centre to reach out to parents reminding them of the need for their children's immunisations.

"It is free and only takes a few minutes of their time, but is something which can save lives."

Childhood diseases, while less common than they once were, are still around and can be very serious.

There have been outbreaks of mumps in North East Lincolnshire colleges and schools and an increasing number of babies are being born with rubella syndrome.

Isobel Duckworth, locum consultant in public health, said: "Before starting or going back to school is an ideal time to ensure that children's immunisations are up to date.

"Parents should contact their health visitor, practice nurse or GP for more information or to check which immunisations have been missed."

To find out more:
visit www.nhs.uk/Planners/vaccinations/Pages/childvaccines.aspx
call NHS Direct on 0845 4647
or speak to your GP practice.