Vaccinations are one of the best ways to keep children healthy.
They protect children from serious illnesses such as measles, meningitis, whooping cough and polio.
Many of these illnesses are now rare in the UK because of vaccines, but they can return if children are not fully protected.
Why vaccinations matter
Vaccines protect children from a range of serious illnesses, including:
- Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
- Diphtheria, tetanus and polio (DTP)
- Whooping cough (pertussis)
- Meningitis (MenB and MenACWY)
- Flu (offered every year)
- HPV (protects against cancers caused by the human papillomavirus)
- Rotavirus (for babies)
- Pneumococcal infections
Vaccines also help protect your child as they grow. They also help:
- reduce missed school days due to illness
- the whole community, including babies, older adults and people with long term health conditions
- stop infections spreading in the community
Vaccinations rates in Brent
Vaccination rates in Brent are low, especially for the MMR vaccine that protects against measles, mumps and rubella.
Being a busy and diverse borough, families often travel or spend time with relatives in other countries. This means infections can spread more easily if children are not protected. This is why it is especially important for families in Brent to keep children’s vaccinations up to date.
Keeping vaccinations up to date helps protect your child and others around them.
Getting your child vaccinated
Vaccines are free, safe, and offered at specific ages through the national vaccination schedule.
If your child has missed any vaccines at school, they can still receive it through Catch-Up Clinics. These clinics are open to eligible young people aged 12-18 and offer free, safe vaccination by trained nurses.
Vaccines offered include:
- MMR
- flu
- HPV
- DTP (diphtheria, tetanus and polio)
- meningitis ACWY
Measles cases have been rising across London, so it is important that children receive both doses of the MMR vaccine to be fully protected.
To find out more about catch‑up clinics, please email brent@v-uk.co.uk or call 020 8432 7075.
If your child is under 12 and behind on their vaccinations, please contact your GP.
Finding out more
If you have questions about vaccinations, your GP, practice nurse or school‑aged immunisation team can help.