Parents and carers of school-aged children, and teenagers up to 19, who have skipped MMR doses can ask for an appointment at a catch-up clinic over the half-term break.
Run by the Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust’s (KCHFT) School-aged Immunisation Service, the clinics are being held in a range of locations across the county between Wednesday 14th and Saturday 17th February.
The catch-up offer is part of ongoing efforts by Kent and Medway health leaders to drive up MMR vaccination rates following a national rise in measles cases. With outbreaks in London and the West Midlands, there are concerns the highly-infectious disease will spread.
Measles can lead to serious illness but it is preventable through two doses of the MMR vaccine.
Children are routinely offered the first dose of MMR at one year and the second dose at three years and four months for life-long protection.
If you are unsure if your child is up to date with their MMR vaccines, you can check their Red Book health record – and if you are still not sure, contact your GP, who can also offer MMR catch-up appointments.
To arrange an appointment at any of the KCHFT catch-up clinics this half-term, Kent and Medway parents and carers can call the School-aged Immunisation Service on 0300 123 5205 or email via kchft.cyp-immunisationteam@nhs.net – or book using the service’s webchat.
Common symptoms of measles include a runny nose, cough, high fever, sore red watery eyes, and a blotchy red-brown rash but for some it can be much more serious and require hospital treatment
The dates and locations of the clinics you can request a catch-up appointment for your child or teen at this February half-term are:
Wednesday 14th
- Newlands Children's Centre, Ramsgate
- Folkestone Early Years Centre
Thursday 15th
- Green Banks, Margate
- St Mary's Church, Swanley
- Dover Health Centre
Friday 16th
- Deal Community Clinic
- Holy Trinity Church Hall, Gillingham
Saturday 17th
- Sheppey Hospital
- The Heathside Centre, Maidstone
- Kennington Scout Hall, Ashford
- St Bartholomew’s Church Hall, Herne Bay
- Dartford Scout Hall, Dartford
- Anyone with symptoms of measles should stay at home and seek advice from your GP, or NHS 111, before visiting any NHS service.
- Find out more about measles and MMR in Kent and Medway.
- Read more about vaccinations.
