Toddlers set to have jabs for six diseases at once
22.11.10
Toddlers are to be inoculated against six diseases at once in a bid to boost vaccination rates, the Government has revealed.
The chief medical officer has told GPs to give the vaccines – including the MMR jab – during a single surgery visit once a baby has passed his or her first birthday.
The 'super-vaccination' day will involve three injections to protect against measles, mumps, rubella, two forms of meningitis and bacteria that can cause pneumonia.
Under the existing NHS timetable, a month normally separates the two meningitis jabs from the other vaccinations. The official advice was sent out to GPs in England and Wales last week.
The Government believes the change will simplify the complicated immunisation schedule and boost the uptake of vaccines after the MMR scare.
Kate Rowland, Head of Development at Meningitis UK, said: "We welcome anything that will make vaccines more accessible and improve vaccine uptake as this will ultimately save lives. We're fully behind this single jab just so long as it has a solid scientific basis."
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