Every child in south east London deserves the best start in life possible. We are striving to ensure all parents and carers get the information, services and support needed for their child’s health and well-being, including protection against harmful childhood infections and diseases.
Making sure children are up to date with all their routine vaccinations will help protect their health now and for the future. Vaccines are a crucial part of everyone’s defence against infectious diseases.
Did you know:
- Vaccines reduce the spread of infectious disease and even get rid of some completely
- When enough people get vaccinated, it’s harder for a disease to spread to those who can’t have vaccines
- Getting vaccinated protects not only you but also your family, friends and community
- Vaccines are made to prevent people from getting serious infectious diseases. It’s much safer for your immune system to learn to fight illness through vaccination than by catching and treating them.
More information about vaccines is available on the NHS website.
If you would like to know more about vaccines including vaccines by age group (and schedules), the research behind vaccines and how they help prevent illness and spread, go to the Oxford University Vaccines Knowledge Project – a source of independent, evidence-based information about vaccines and infectious diseases.
Failing to protect children increases risk to health
In recent years, fewer children have been getting vaccines they need to help prevent illness now and in future. In 2021, nearly 15% of children in London didn’t have their 6-in-1 vaccination – which protects against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, disease caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b, hepatitis B.
In 2021 – 2022, only 79.9% of London had their vital MMR vaccine – protecting them against measles, mumps and rubella.
Numbers in people having both vaccines are well below the World Health Organisation target of 95%. That’s why we are encouraging parents and carers to find out more, and ensure their children are up to date with their vaccine schedule – also known as their ‘Red Book’. (Source)
Please click the links below to find out more.