December 2007 News
Last Stop for the Spotty Bus
Watch out, Measles about: Immunisation is on the move
The touring immunisation unit launched in response to the measles outbreak in Hackney will soon be making its last stop. Parents are encouraged to bring their children along to Morrisons supermarket in Stamford Hill on Sunday 9 December from 11 to 5pm and bring their child up to date with all of their immunisations.
More than 600 children have climbed aboard the ‘spotty bus’ which has been visiting schools and nurseries throughout Hackney to offer immediate immunisation to unprotected children. This campaign was launched on 29 October by City and Hackney Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT) as a result of the measles outbreak, which has so far seen 317 Hackney children covered in the spots. Hackney has seen more measles cases in this outbreak than any other borough in the UK.
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Dr Jose Figueroa, from the City and Hackney Teaching Primary Care Trust, said: “We’ve worked for months to raise awareness of the importance of the MMR vaccine, and the community has responded well;immunisationshave gone up and cases have been reduced. We hope that the mobile unit will now help us find every last unprotected child and finally put an end to this outbreak.”
Dr Gabrielle Laing, Consultant Community Paediatrician for City and Hackney PCT said: “The return of measles in Hackney has reminded us of the importance of all immunisations. The “spotty bus” is taking immunisation to families and gives parents the chance to bringtheirchild’simmunisations up to date and prevent serious disease.”
For more information
April DotyHead of Communications
City and Hackney Teaching PCT
Tel: 020 8683 4265
Email: april.doty@chpct.nhs.uk
Page updated: 4 Dec 2007