Parents urged to catch up on children’s vaccinations at clinics this summer

Families with children under five years of age whose vaccinations are not up to date have been invited to attend one of a series of clinics which have been announced for Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes over the coming weeks and months.

A schedule of clinics has been established at a dozen regular venues across the region which vaccination teams will visit, to help provide the protection children need against some nasty infectious diseases which mainly affect children.

Sites have been chosen to make it easy for families to drop in, with no booking required for these clinics.

In recent years, the number of children vaccinated against many of the infections has fallen below the level necessary to prevent an outbreak.  Achieving high vaccination coverage across the population is important as it also helps to protect infants under one year old and other vulnerable groups who cannot be vaccinated.

Senior local doctors believe that, unless families come forward to catch up on missed vaccinations, the region may be vulnerable to large-scale outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as those seen recently in both London and the West Midlands, where many hundreds of children became sick with measles.

Dates have been announced for the summer term and summer holidays, which will allow families to get the protection their children need before starting school or nursery in September.

Dr Sanhita Chakrabarti, deputy chief medical director and clinical lead for children’s and maternity services at Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board, said:

“There are lots of reasons why your child may not be up to date on all of their vaccinations.  We know that some families couldn’t attend routine appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many of those children are now at school or coming up to school age.

“We also know that families sometimes change their minds so, even if you previously chose not to have your child vaccinated, the opportunity is still there.

“We are seeing increased demand for the jabs at present.  Many parents realise that the time to catch up on missing vaccinations is now, before the infections we’ve seen in other parts of England are repeated in our area, and this is a very sensible approach which I welcome.

“There will also be opportunities for older children and teenagers to catch up on any missed vaccinations, and we’ll be publishing those dates shortly.”

What you can do to get your child vaccinated

• Ask your general practice: You can make an appointment through your surgery.
• Come along to one of our special catch-up clinics: We are offering clinics from May to August, at the following places.

BEDFORD BOROUGH

Mondays: Queens Park Children’s Centre, Marlborough Road, Bedford, MK40 4LE

20 May, 17 June, 15 July, 19 August (9:00 am to 12:00 noon)

Tuesdays: Pine Cones Children’s Centre, Slade Walk, Bedford, MK41 7SA

21 May, 18 June, 16 July, 20 August (9:00 am to 12:00 noon)

Fridays: Church Lane Community Centre, Goldington, Bedford, MK41 0PW

21 June, 19 July (9:00 am to 12:00 noon)

23 August (9:00 am to 3:00 pm)

CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE

Mondays: Shefford Children’s Centre, School Lane, Shefford, SG17 5XA

27 May, 24 June, 22 July, 26 August (12:30 to 3:30 pm)

Tuesdays: Parkside Hall, Woburn Street, Ampthill, MK45 2HX

28 May, 25 June, 23 July (9:00 am to 12:00 noon)

27 August (9:00 am to 3:00 pm)

Wednesdays: Sandy Children’s Centre, Laburnum Road, Sandy, SG19 1HQ

29 May, 24 July, 28 August (9:00 am to 3:30 pm)

Thursdays: Leighton Buzzard Children’s Centre, East Street, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1EW

30 May, 25 July, 29 August (9:00 am to 12:00 noon)

* also Friday 28 June (1:00 to 3:00 pm)

LUTON

Tuesdays: Bury Park Community Centre, 161 Dunstable Road, Luton, LU1 1BW

7 May, 4 June, 2 July, 6 August (9:00 am to 12:00 noon)

Thursdays: Hockwell Ring Family Hub, Mayne Avenue, Luton, LU4 9LB

9 May, 6 June, 4 July, 8 August (1:00 to 3:30 pm)

Fridays: St Francis Church, Carteret Road, Luton, LU2 9JZ

10 May, 7 June, 5 July, 9 August (9:30 am to 12:00 noon)

MILTON KEYNES

Wednesdays: The Rowans Family Centre, Moorfoot, Milton Keynes, MK11 2BD

15 May, 12 June, 10 July (1:00 to 4:00 pm)

Thursdays: Daisy Chain (The Lounge), Melrose Avenue, West Bletchley, MK3 6PS

16 May, 13 June, 11 July (9:00 am to 12:30 pm)

15 August (9:00 am to 3:30 pm)