The NHS North East London campaign encourages parents with concerns, questions or who want to better understand the protection that vaccines can provide, to speak to their GP, midwife or health visitor, reports Rana Rastegari

Main image credit: LPETTET via Canva, inset image credit: Inkdrop via Canva

NHS North East London has launched a new campaign called Bright Start in Life which works in collaboration with local councils to ensure pregnant women and parents in north east boroughs have access to all the information on childhood and maternity vaccinations.

The campaign encourages parents with concerns, questions or who want to better understand the protection that vaccines can provide, to speak to their GP, midwife or health visitor.

The NHS offers free vaccinations for children aged five and under to boost their immunity against serious illnesses such as polio, measles, meningitis, mumps and rubella. These vaccinations also prevent the spread of the illnesses in the community.

In north east London, thousands of children eligible for these vaccinations have yet to receive them. Among these are 2,200 children in Waltham Forest as well as Barking and Dagenham, 4,300 in the City of London and Hackney, 3,300 in Redbridge, 3,200 in Newham, 2,300 in Tower Hamlets and over 1,600 in Havering.

As recent studies have revealed that measles cases have been rising in reactions such as London and five babies have died from whooping cough in England this year, there is increasing concern about the infections.

These studies also coincide with the national fall in MMR vaccine coverage and a decline in the uptake of the six-in-one vaccine among two-year-olds and the maternal pertussis vaccine which is offered during pregnancy, both of which provide protections against whooping cough.

NHS North East London has launched a new online vaccination hub which has the details of each vaccine available for children and babies.

Dr Muhammad Naqvi, a local GP and clinical lead for vaccinations at NHS North East London, said: “We know that vaccines are safe and prevent millions of deaths worldwide every year, including here in the UK, so getting vaccinated is the best thing you can do to protect yourself and your children against many serious, potentially deadly diseases.

“But we also understand that vaccination is a personal choice and some people need more information to help them make the right decision for themselves or their families. That’s why our campaign is encouraging people to have conversations with a local health professional.

“If you’re a parent or a prospective parent and you’d like to know more about the vaccines available during pregnancy or childhood, please visit our vaccinations web page for information or get in touch with your GP, health visitor or midwife for advice. Ensuring your child is fully vaccinated will help give them the brightest and healthiest start in life.”

Joe McDonnell, Director of Public Health for Waltham Forest, said: “This will be a really important campaign for Waltham Forest’s Public Health team and all our health partners. Looking at the sharply rising numbers with measles and whooping cough (Pertussis) in London this year, we are concerned that the declining rate of maternal and early years vaccination is putting more children at risk, and we recognise that many of the traditional methods of promoting vaccines need to be refined.

“Our residents want to feel heard, and they want to build trusting relationships with medical professionals, and that’s what this campaign will help deliver. Above all, the cross-borough work will encourage teams to share resources as well as vital learnings.”

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