Vaccination is the most important thing we can do to protect ourselves and our children against ill health. They prevent millions of deaths worldwide every year. However, if people stop having vaccines, it’s possible for infectious diseases to quickly spread again.
Find out what vaccinations are given when, on the NHS website![Young child having plaster put on arm following a vaccination](https://www.hertsandwestessex.ics.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Young-child-after-vaccination-Shutterstock_2191140195-1024x683.jpg)
Measles – protect your child with the MMR vaccine
It’s very important to make sure that your child has had two doses of the MMR vaccine – this will protect them against three serious illnesses – measles, mumps and rubella. If your child is aged one or over and hasn’t had their vaccinations, please contact your GP Practice as soon as you can to arrange an appointment.
Measles spreads very easily between people who aren’t vaccinated. You can catch it just by spending time in the same room as someone. And it can cause children and people with a weakened immune system to be very unwell.
You may have heard on the news about measles cases in some parts of the country. To stop measles spreading further, the NHS is encouraging all parents to make sure that their children have been vaccinated. The NHS usually offers the first dose of MMR vaccine when your child turns one, then the second dose before they start school as part of the ‘pre-school booster’.
Measles usually starts with cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash a few days later. Some people may also get small spots in their mouth. If you think your child might have measles, check symptoms on the NHS website. Keep your child at home and call your GP Practice for advice first.
Vaccine catch up clinics – Hertfordshire
Has your child missed any routine school vaccinations?
Catch up clinics for children and teenagers are running in the school summer holidays. No appointment is needed for these Hertfordshire clinics – just walk in. All run from 9.15am – 2.45pm.
- Tuesday 30 July
St Michael’s Mead Community Centre, Turners Crescent, Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 4FZ - Monday 5 August
South Oxhey Family Centre, at Oxhey Wood Primary School, Northwick Road, WD19 6NL - Tuesday 6 August
Furzefield Family Centre, Mutton Lane, Potters Bar, EN6 3BW - Tuesday 6 August
Furzefield Family Centre, Mutton Lane, Potters Bar, EN6 3BW - Wednesday 7 August
The Hive, off College Road, Leavesden, WD5 0NX - Monday 12 August
St Michael’s Mead Community Centre, Turners Crescent, Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 4FZ - Tuesday 13 August
Peace Children’s Centre, Peace Prospect, Watford, WD17 3EW - Monday 19 August
The Hive, off College Road, Leavesden, WD5 0NX
To contact the school-aged immunisations team at Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust, call 0300 555 5055 and select option one.
Vaccine catch up clinics – West Essex
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust regularly runs catch up clinics in west Essex for children who have missed their HPV vaccine (given in year 8) or their DTP and Meningitis ACWY (given in year 9). To book an appointment at one of the clinics below, please call 0300 790 0597.
- Monday 29 July, 10am – 2pm
St Margaret’s Hospital, Epping, CM16 6TN – Orchard Day Room
Booked appointments and walk-ins - Wednesday 31 July, 10am – 2pm
Treehouse Community Clinic, Harlow, CM18 7NG
Booked appointments and walk-ins - Thursday 1 August, 10am – 2pm
New Beginnings, Loughton, IG10 3HE - Thursday 1 August, 12pm – 4pm
Dunmow Clinic, CM6 1BH - Monday 5 August, 10am – 4pm
St Margaret’s Hospital, Epping, CM16 6TN – Orchard Day Room
Booked appointments and walk-ins - Thursday 8 August, 10am -3pm
Saffron Walden Community Hospital, CB11 3HY - Thursday 8 August, 10am – 3.30pm
Treehouse Community Clinic, Harlow, CM18 7NG
Booked appointments and walk-ins - Monday 12 August, 10am – 2pm
New Beginnings, Loughton, IG10 3HE - Tuesday 13 August, 12pm – 4pm
Dunmow Clinic, CM6 1BH - Thursday 15 August, 11am – 4pm
Dunmow Clinic, CM6 1BH - Monday 19 August, 10am – 2pm
St Margaret’s Hospital, Epping, CM16 6TN – Orchard Day Room
Booked appointments and walk-ins - Thursday 22 August, 10am – 2pm
Treehouse Community Clinic, Harlow CM18 7NG
Booked appointments and walk-ins - Thursday 22 August, 10am – 2pm
New Beginnings, Loughton, IG10 3HE - Thursday 22 August, 10am -3pm
Saffron Walden Community Hospital, CB11 3HY - Friday 23 August, 11pm – 4pm
Dunmow Clinic, CM6 1BH - Wednesday 28 August, 10am -2pm
St Margaret’s Hospital, Epping, CM16 6TN – Orchard Day Room
Booked appointments and walk-ins - Thursday 29 August, 10am – 2pm
Treehouse Community Clinic, Harlow CM18 7NG
Booked appointments and walk-ins - Thursday 29 August, 11am – 1pm
Dunmow Clinic, CM6 1BH - Friday 30 August, 11am – 4pm
Dunmow Clinic, CM6 1BH