Public urged to keep getting essential vaccines

NHS England is urging people to continue attending all regular vaccination appointments to prevent outbreaks of serious diseases and reduce pressure on the NHS.

This includes bringing children forward for lifesaving jabs to stop killer diseases like measles and mumps, and follows reports that many parents were avoiding doing so because of coronavirus and its effect on hospital resources.

However, the NHS England guidance remains that as long as those attending appointments, including parents of babies or children, do not have symptoms or are not self-isolating because someone in the household is displaying symptoms, all scheduled vaccinations should go ahead as normal.

High vaccine uptake can prevent a resurgence of infections, which can cause harm and put unnecessary added pressure on the NHS.

Nikita Kanani, NHS England Medical Director for Primary Care, said: “Vaccines are an absolutely essential building block of good health, so if you or any member of your household are not displaying symptoms of coronavirus and are not self-isolating, vaccinations should happen as normal. While the NHS is taking unprecedented measures to protect people from coronavirus, local services are working hard to ensure that people including babies, children and pregnant women still receive their routine vaccinations – they provide essential protection against potentially life-threatening diseases.”