Parents are being urged to check their child’s vaccination status, and make sure they catch up on any missed doses.
Measles cases are on the rise in England, with the bulk of new cases coming from the West Midlands.
Although cases in the North West are low, there are growing concerns about how rapidly measles can spread, and the health dangers posed by the disease.
MMR is a safe and effective combined vaccination which protects against mumps, measles and rubella. It is recommended that children get two doses of the vaccine – the first at 12 months, and the second at 3 years and 4 months old.
To ensure as many children in Blackpool as possible are fully vaccinated, Blackpool Council are working with community healthcare providers FCMS to deliver drop-in MMR vaccination clinics, the first of which are taking place this week.
The clinics are at Central Family Hub (Gorton Street, Blackpool, FY1 3JW) on Thursday 29 February and Friday 1 March, between 11.00am and 2.00pm on all dates.
No appointment is necessary to attend these clinics. Staff will be offering first and second doses of MMR to children between the ages of 1 and 5 years.
Anyone outside of this age group can check their vaccination status and catch up with any missed jabs by contacting their GP.
Dr Arif Rajpura, Blackpool Council’s Director of Public Health, said:
Parents are also being encouraged to look out for any symptoms of measles. It usually starts with cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash a few days later. Some people may also get small white spots in their mouth.
If a parent suspects that their child may have measles, they should not attend A&E or their GP surgery. They should instead call their GP or NHS 111 for urgent advice.
These drop-in MMR vaccination clinics are for Blackpool residents only.
If you would prefer to book an appointment, please contact your GP surgery.
Further clinics are expected to be held in the coming weeks, please check Blackpool Council’s social media channels for updates, or via the website link below.
More information