Local NHS and Public Health leaders are urging people to attend all regular vaccination appointments to prevent outbreaks of serious diseases and reduce pressure on the health service.
The NHS is continuing to help people to manage illness linked to coronavirus but is still urging parents to bring children forward for lifesaving jabs to stop killer diseases like measles and meningitis.
With many people expressing concern and even fear about seeking help during the virus emergency, the NHS is running a nationwide campaign to encourage people to come forward for help when they need it.
Essential, routine vaccinations like the MMR jab can save a child’s life and are available through family doctors by contacting your usual GP surgery.
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.
Dr Ian Tait, Chair of NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group said: “If you or any member of your household are not displaying symptoms of coronavirus and are not self-isolating, vaccinations should happen as normal as they are essential for good health.
“Children should continue to go to their routine vaccination appointments when they are invited by their GP. If you need to visit your GP, parents should be reassured that going to a medical appointment is classed as essential travel as long as no one in the household is displaying COVID- 19 symptoms.
“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.”
High vaccine uptake can prevent a resurgence of infections, which can cause harm and put unnecessary added pressure on the NHS.
A full list of vaccinations and when they are available, for children and adults, is accessible through the NHS website.
