Pop-up clinics open to boost vaccination rates

The West Midlands is experiencing its highest number of measles cases since the mid-1990s

Pop-up clinics are being hosted across Coventry in order to boost vaccination rates.

In January, health officials revealed that the West Midlands was experiencing its highest number of measles cases since the mid-1990s.

All secondary schools in Coventry, along with 21 primary schools, will be hosting vaccination clinics.

Most of the cases were in Birmingham but there were some in Coventry too, according to experts.

They said that although a vaccine against the disease has been available since the late 1960s, there were some people who were reluctant to let their children have it.

Public health consultant Lily Makurah from Coventry City Council said the council, NHS and partner community organisations had been working together to share the message that having two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine provides the best protection against the disease.

They’ve also been telling people what measles looks like so medical professionals can treat patients more quickly.

Healthcare professionals have been working to educate people about the vaccine

Ms Makurah said: “On top of the opportunity to be vaccinated at a GP, we’ve selected some schools to offer some pop-up clinics offering MMR for pupils at the school, their siblings, and also their parents and teachers so we get to vaccinate as many people as possible over the coming weeks.”

She said uptake of the clinics – which began last week - had been good so far.

She urged anyone in the city to come forward for a vaccination.

Bosses said they had gone to additional lengths to ensure the vaccine was accessible for all.

This included making sure the vaccine being offered in Coventry does not have any pork products in it.

The Covid-19 pandemic had also had an impact on people’s perceptions of vaccinations, Ms Makurah said.

“On the positive side, lots of people are much more aware of the benefits of being vaccinated so they’re taking the opportunity for themselves or their children to come forward and be vaccinated and catch up on what they’d missed,” she explained.