Parents in Kent and Medway are being urged to keep taking their children for routine vaccination appointments during the coronavirus lockdown.
The NHS has launched a national campaign to encourage parents to take their child for routine vaccinations when they are due. They protect against serious and potentially deadly illnesses and stop outbreaks in the community.
Stressing the importance of vaccinations, Dr Navin Kumta, GP and chair of NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “Getting potentially life-saving immunisations is definitely an important medical appointment that meets the guidance for leaving home.
“It’s very important that we avoid an increase in preventable diseases and we would strongly encourage parents to attend appointments as usual.”
However, if a child needing a vaccination is unwell, has coronavirus symptoms or is self-isolating because someone in the household is displaying symptoms, parents should contact their GP practice for advice.
All staff in surgeries are taking additional precautions to maintain a safe environment for everyone.
Staff at Walderslade Village Surgery, part of Reach Healthcare in Medway, put a new system in place early in the Covid-pandemic for childhood immunisations and other appointments. They hold two child immunisation clinics a week and offer combined appointments with post-natal checks.
Parents are told about the new process as they are booked in. A nurse rings them on the day of the appointment and gives them a mobile telephone number to call when they arrive. They are then met at the door by the nurse and taken straight in. All children booked for routine immunisations since this system has been in place have attended their appointments.
GP Dr Satvinder Lall (pictured right) said: “Parents are often anxious about childhood immunisations and this anxiety is heightened due to this pandemic. However, we have strict procedures in place to ensure patients are kept safe and we have a very personal approach to help to allay any concerns.
“I’d urge anyone whose child is due to have its routine immunisations to book an appointment and speak to their practice if they have any worries.”
At Pelham Medical Practice in Gravesend, patients are encouraged to wait in their cars until let in to the surgery and only one person is allowed to attend with the child. Nurses and the clerk wear PPE and the surgery is following strict infection control measures including cleaning surfaces, chairs and door handles in between patients.
Practice nurse Donna-Maria Dodson said: “We call the parents beforehand to let them know the process and put their minds at rest about any concerns. We try where possible to ensure only one patient is in the surgery at any one time, but when that isn’t possible, we have enough space to ensure social distancing.”
Older children, who usually have their routine vaccinations at school, will need to wait until school returns.
Anne Ford, Public Health Clinical Services Manager for Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust said: “We will be putting a major programme in place to ensure that all school-age children are offered the immunisations they are entitled to, including those who have missed out due to lockdown. This will include seasonal flu vaccination, HPV and all routine school age vaccinations.”
More information about routine vaccinations and when to have them is available on the NHS website as well as appointment tips for parents.
Mum Mandy Johnson with her son, Danny, at his vaccination appointment.