Summary
15 pharmacies across Greater Manchester are offering the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine to make it quicker and easier for people who have yet to be vaccinated to catch up.
The pharmacies from NHS Greater Manchester (NHS GM) join 28 other pharmacies from across the north-west as part of a pilot supporting a national call and recall of under-vaccinated children and to help increase MMR vaccines.
Anyone aged 5 or over who has missed their MMR vaccine can walk into one of the participating pharmacies to get their vaccination from a highly trained pharmacist, with no appointment needed.
The pharmacy scheme follows on from phases one and two of the NHS MMR vaccine catch-up campaign targeting Greater Manchester, West Midlands and London – with these areas more at risk due to the number of people who are not up to date with their MMR vaccinations.
Aneet Kapoor, chair of the pharmacy local professional network and a pharmacist at KPS Pharmacy in Chorlton said: “Our pharmacists are highly skilled in administering vaccinations, providing healthcare advice and reassuring patients – helping to answer any questions they may have about the MMR vaccine, and ensuring individuals make informed decisions about their health.
“The changes in healthcare delivery, technology and patient needs, means that the role of community pharmacists is evolving. We are increasingly becoming even more integral to the health of our communities – expanding what clinical services we offer and providing a greater focus on patient-centred care and public health initiatives aimed at promoting health and preventing disease. All with the aim of making it easier for people to stay healthy for longer.”
For a full list of participating pharmacies, visit the NHS GM website.
Primary care can access campaigns and resources to support the uptake of the MMR vaccine on the NHS GM website campaigns page.
There is also an information page, aimed at the public, which sets out the signs and symptoms of measles, details about vaccination and what to do if you think you or your child has measles.
