The Alresford Surgery Newsletter

Dr David Green, Dr Richard Cribb, Dr Peter Stokes
Dr Ann Lowman, Dr Sheila Cassidy, Dr Susan Wright
Station Road, Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 9JL
Telephone No. 01962 732345 (24 hours) Fax: 01962 736034

MMR

Most of our young patients receive the MMR vaccine and we continue to strongly support this. Immunisation rates for this vaccine have fallen in Alresford to below 80% for the first time. Previously high immunity rates have meant that the virus could not be passed on. Therefore non immunised children were protected by the fact that nearly all their friends had received the vaccine. In Alresford this is no longer the case. The conditions are right for the three virus' to circulate. One in seventy children catching measles will need admission to hospital and 1 in 5000 will die. There is still no evidence which proves that the MMR vaccine is harmful. These facts are why this practice and all the professional organisations in the UK recommend the MMR vaccine.

Parents who have concerns about the vaccination are encouraged to discuss this with the Health Visitor or their GP. Further information is available on www.immunisation.org.uk or from NHS Direct on 0845 4647.