Parents in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin urged to get lifesaving routine vaccines for their children

This World Immunisation Week (24 to 30 April), health leaders in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin are urging parents and carers to check their children are up to date with their essential childhood vaccinations, and book any that have been missed.

Essential, routine vaccinations like measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), human papillomavirus (HPV) and the whooping cough vaccine can save a child’s life.

Vanessa Whatley, Director of Nursing for NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, said: “One of the best ways to protect our children is by making sure they have all their vaccinations.

“It’s important that vaccines are given on time for the best protection, but if your child has missed a vaccine, it’s not too late – contact your GP to catch up. Please don’t delay it.”

More than 20 million cases of measles have been prevented since the start of measles vaccination in the UK, and more than 4,500 lives saved as a result of the vaccine which has been used since 1980s (source UKHSA).

The HPV vaccine is 97% effective in protecting against infection from some of the highest risk types of HPV (a group of viruses which can affect boys and girls) helping prevent HPV related cancers from developing. The vaccine is very effective and NHS England believes it will play its part in eliminating cervical cancer by 2040.

Children aged 12 to 13 years (in year 8) are routinely offered the HPV vaccine through school aged immunisation services, mainly given either in schools or community clinics. Anyone who missed out on their HPV vaccination can still catch up until their 25th birthday (for girls born after 1 September 1991 and boys born after 1 September 2006).

Whooping cough cases are rising and babies who are too young to start their vaccinations are at greatest risk (553 new cases were confirmed in England during January 2024, compared with 858 cases for the whole of 2023).

If you are pregnant, you can help protect your baby by getting vaccinated – ideally from 16 weeks up to 32 weeks pregnant. The immunity you get from the vaccine passes to your baby through the placenta and protects them until they are old enough to be vaccinated at 8 weeks old.

If you are more than 16 weeks pregnant and have not been offered the vaccine, you can talk to your midwife or GP and make an appointment to get vaccinated.

For more information about childhood vaccines visit Childhood Vaccinations – Essential information (stw-healthiertogether.nhs.uk)