April - immunisations

Vaccines (also known as immunisations) are safe and effective ways to save millions of lives every year. They do this by boosting your immunity to specific infections, like measles and whooping cough.

If enough people are vaccinated against a disease, this prevents it from spreading. Diseases like smallpox and polio previously caused thousands of deaths and long-term disability in the UK. They are now either completely gone or rarely seen because of vaccination.

However, if people do not get vaccinated then diseases can make a comeback. Therefore, getting vaccinated is important to protect yourself, your loved ones and the whole community.

For more information about vaccinations visit this NHS website.

Vaccines work by helping your body’s natural defences to build resistance to specific infections. When you have a vaccine, your body creates antibodies just like it would when you get the actual disease.

This means your immune system learns how to stop these infections before you are exposed to them, preventing you from getting the disease and protecting you from being so unwell.

Watch this video for more information on how vaccines work.

Some diseases are less common today because we have had years of successful vaccination programmes. For example, measles and pertussis (whopping cough) are still lurking and can quickly resurface if we are not protected.

If too many people are not vaccinated this can lead to outbreaks. Not being vaccinated can also have tragic consequences. All deaths from measles since the year 2000 have been in unvaccinated people.

By getting vaccinated, we protect ourselves and the most vulnerable in our community from these potentially deadly disease.

Measles is a very contagious disease. It spreads through tiny droplets in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Measles usually starts with cold-like symptoms, followed by a red-brown rash. However, it can sometimes lead to serious complications like:

• pneumonia
• encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
• and sometimes even death

Worryingly, Measles has been on the rise in the UK in recent years. A lot of this is because of a fall in the number of people vaccinated against the disease. You vaccinate against Measles with the MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccine. To stop Measles becoming more common in your community, vaccinating your child with their MMR is very important

You can read more information about Measles from the World Health Organisation.

Getting vaccinated during pregnancy protects you and your newborn baby from serious illnesses. This is especially important for your baby in their vulnerable first months of life. Vaccinating yourself protects your baby as your immune defences (called antibodies) are transferred to them during your pregnancy.

Two important vaccines are flu and pertussis (whooping cough). Having these vaccines can protect you and your baby from serious complications during pregnancy like lower birth weight or even stillbirth. They also prevent your baby from getting flu and whooping cough in their first months of life.

Whooping cough is a very contagious disease that can cause severe coughing fits, difficulty breathing and can sometimes even be fatal. Because babies are only able to have this vaccine after they are 8 weeks old, having it during pregnancy is important to protect in their first 2 months of life.

This leaflet has helpful information and guidance about vaccinations during pregnancy.

To protect yourself this winter, take advantage of the NHS winter vaccination programme.

Flu (Influenza), COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccines are now available. Adults aged 65 and over, care home residents, and those with underlying health conditions are eligible for free flu and COVID-19 vaccines. The RSV vaccine is now available for people aged 75-79 and for pregnant women from 28 weeks.

Vaccines are available at GP surgeries, most high street pharmacies, maternity units and at schools. Book your vaccination today to stay safe this season.

Book your Flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines here:

• Flu
• COVID-19
• RSV

Yes, vaccines are very safe! All vaccines undergo rigorous safety testing to ensure they meet the highest international safety standards. Once they are introduced to the UK, the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency) continuously monitor vaccine safety so that any issues are detected and acted on quickly.

Just like with any medication, vaccines can have side effects. The vast majority of these are very mild, like soreness at the injection site or a mild fever. It is important to remember that these are short-lasting and are minor compared to the risks posed by the disease that vaccines protect us against. For example, disease such as polio, meningitis and hepatitis B cause complications like blindness, paralysis, severe disability and death.

You can read more information about vaccine safety at the World Health Organisation.

NHS vaccination schedule: There are quite a few vaccinations which you or your child will benefit from. The NHS has a schedule which provides information on when each person should have these vaccinations. You can find details about this schedule here.

Why We Get Vaccinated Campaign: This is a new initiative set up in partnership with London communities to improve vaccination rates where they are needed most. With real stories from residents and health professionals, this campaign aims to create open dialogue about vaccinations, with a key focus on building confidence and breaking down barriers. Read more about the campaign here.

E-Bug: This is a health education programme run by UK Health and Security Agency that improves our knowledge on key aspects of infection control, such as antimicrobial resistance and hygiene practices. They even offer a community hygiene course aiming to help people learn more about preventing the spread of infections and treating infections! For more information visit www.e-bug.eu.

Yellow Card Scheme: This allows you to report any suspected side effects from vaccines, which helps keep immunisations safe. You can submit reports via the website: yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk, or via the App.

There key awareness date for vaccinations (immunisations) in 2025 is:

World Immunisation Week - April 23-30th 2025