Don’t forget your routine vaccinations
As you may have seen from recent media coverage, the uptake of routine vaccinations is declining.
Data shows that, in some parts of England, one in ten children are unvaccinated and unprotected against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) by the time they start school.
These highly infectious conditions can easily spread between unvaccinated people. These conditions can also lead to serious problems including meningitis, hearing loss and problems during pregnancy.
The number of adults taking up influenza and shingles vaccines has also gone down.
According to UNICEF, the reasons for this include uncertainty about the response to the pandemic, growing access to misleading information and declining trust in expertise. Anti-vaccine stories are often spread online through social media. They may not be based on scientific evidence and could put your child at risk of a serious illness.
It’s important to remember that immunisation is one of the most effective ways of protecting against serious diseases.
Once we've been immunised, our bodies are better able to fight these diseases if we come into contact with them.
Here’s are some of the important facts and common myths about vaccines …
Vaccines DO:
Protect you and your child from many serious and potentially deadly diseases
Protect other people in your community – by helping to stop diseases spreading to people who cannot have vaccines
Undergo rigorous safety testing before being introduced – they’re also constantly monitored for side effects after being introduced
Sometimes cause mild side effects that will not last long – you may feel a bit unwell and have a sore arm for two or three days
Reduce or even get rid of some diseases – if enough people are vaccinated.
Vaccines DON’T:
Cause autism – studies have found no evidence of a link between the MMR vaccine and autism
Overload or weaken the immune system – it's safe to give children and adults several vaccines at a time and this reduces the amount of injections needed
Cause allergies or any other conditions – all the current evidence tells us that vaccinating is safer than not vaccinating
Contain mercury (thiomersal)
Contain any ingredients that cause harm in such small amounts (but speak to your doctor if you have any known allergies such as to eggs or gelatine).
To find out which vaccines are available on the NHS – and when you should get them – take a look at the NHS vaccination schedule.
You'll usually be contacted by your GP surgery when your child is due for a routine vaccination. This could be a letter, text, phone call or email.