October Patient Newsletter

Highly contagious respiratory infection. Leads to severe coughing fits that can last for weeks or months. Especially dangerous in infants and young children.

Symptoms

• Long coughing fits that are hard to stop
• Whooping sound when breathing in (not always present)
• Vomiting after coughing
• Exhaustion and difficulty breathing
• In babies symptoms can be less obvious but can stop breathing or turn blue

Who is eligible for vaccination?

• Pregnant women (to protect newborn after birth) – eligible after 16 weeks pregnant
• Babies and young children – included in primary vaccinations (8, 12 and 16 weeks) and pre-school boosters (3 years and 4 months)
• Contact of pertussis from 10 years of age if vaccination is recommended by Public Health England

Learn more about Whooping cough on the NHS website

Find advice for whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy

A common childhood illness that causes an itchy, spotty rash.

Symptoms

• Red, itchy spots that turn into blisters
• Feeling tired or unless
• Mild fever

The chicken pox vaccination is not yet part of the routine NHS childhood vaccination schedule. It can be sourced privately or is sometimes offered to people who are a close contact with someone at high risk e.g. family household contact with someone with a weakened immune system.

Learn more about Chicken pox on the NHS website

Protects against 4 different types of Meningitis causing bacteria, A, C, W and Y. Can cause life-threating illnesses such as Meningitis and sepsis.

Symptoms

• Sudden high fever
• Severe headache
• Stiff neck
• Vomiting
• Sensitivity to light
• Cold hands and feet, pale or blotchy skin
• Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing
• In some cases – rash of purple spots or bruises

Who is eligible for vaccination?

• Teenagers in school – offered in year 9 and given at school
• Young people up to the age of 25 if they missed it at school – especially if going to university 
• Close contact of a confirmed case of Meningitis ACWY who has not received a Meningitis ACWY vaccination within the past 12 months

Learn more about Meningitis ACWY on the NHS website

Protects against 3 common but serious illnesses, Measles, Mumps and Rubella.

Symptoms

• Measles – high fever, cough, runny nose, red eye and red rash that spreads all over the body
• Mumps – swelling and pain around the jaw and cheeks, heacache
• Rubella – mild fever, rash and swollen glands

Who is eligible for vaccination?

• Children as part of the routine NHS vaccination schedule
  • Born before 1st July 2024 – doses at 1 year and 3 years and 4 months
  • Born on or after 1st July 2024  - doses at 1 year and 18 months
• Anyone who missed their MMR vaccination as a child

Learn more about MMR Vaccine on the NHS website

It's important that vaccines are given on time for the best protection, but if you or your child missed a vaccine, contact your GP to catch up.

Learn about the NHS Vaccinations and when to have them