Two Sefton pharmacies are among first in country offering walk-in appointments for 5- to 11-year-olds who are overdue one or both doses of the MMR vaccine, which provides protection against measles.

Davey's and Hirshman's

Parents and guardians of young people who have missed an MMR immunisation can go to Davey’s Chemist at 69 Randall Drive in Ford (L30 2PB) or Hirshman’s Chemist, at Sherwood House, 56-62 Station Road, Ainsdale (PR8 3HW) without having to pre-book an appointment.

Fourteen pharmacies across Cheshire and Merseyside are taking part in the new initiative, which is being trialled in the North West, in response to the reduced numbers of children, nationally, who have had the MMR vaccine.

Check red book

Children are usually given the first MMR dose aged one, with a second at around three years and four months. Parents and guardians can find out whether their child is up to date with their vaccinations by checking their personal child health record (PCHR), also known as the red book, or contacting their GP.

But the MMR is not only for children. You can protect yourself by getting the vaccine for free from the NHS whatever your age.

An entirely preventable disease

Margaret Jones, Sefton Council’s Director of Public Health said: "Measles is an entirely preventable disease but children who have not yet had both doses of the MMR vaccination are at risk of catching it.

"It is a highly infectious illness with potentially life-changing complications.

“This new initiative with pharmacists  means parents can walk in with no appointment needed, although there may be a short wait if the pharmacist is busy.”

You can use this link to find the full list of pharmacies across Cheshire and Merseyside.

GP practices will also be able to refer patients for MMR vaccination in a participating pharmacy.

More convenient

Tricia Spedding, Regional Deputy Head of Public Health for NHS England – North West, said: "By offering the MMR vaccine in pharmacies to children who missed one or both doses, we are hoping to make it easier and more convenient for parents to get their children protected."

Valuable opportunity

John Davey, a pharmacist at Davey’s Chemist in Huyton, which is involved in the pilot initiative, said: "This is a valuable opportunity for parents to bring their children to conveniently and locally get the MMR vaccine to protect them against measles.

"The pilot is also a great opportunity for community pharmacies in Primary Care to support local GP practices in offering additional healthcare resources to the local community."

Other schemes

The pharmacy scheme is one of a number of initiatives that have been introduced in the North West over the past two months to increase MMR vaccine uptake in response to rising measles cases. Other schemes include:

• the introduction of vaccine catch-up clinics in general practice, including evening and weekend sessions.
• roving and outreach vaccine clinics in the community, including the Living Well Bus in Cheshire and Merseyside.
  You can find the latest Sefton dates for the Living Well Bus here.
• extra vaccination sessions being put on by school aged immunisation providers in schools in some areas where uptake is lower.

In addition, GPs are continuing to call those aged 12 months to 5 for vaccination and parents of children who are due or have missed their MMR vaccines are being urged to come forward as soon as possible.