Drop-in sessions for measles vaccinations in Mid Wales
Drop-in sessions for children and young people who have missed their routine measles vaccinations are to be held in Mid Wales as the region continues to fight the outbreak that spread across the border into Shropshire.
The Powys teaching Health Board says its special clinics are aimed at vaccinating children and young people who have not received two doses of the MMR vaccine.
Newtown Hospital Outpatients department will host a drop-in session on Saturday between 10.30am and 2.30pm.
Tim Wheeler from the health board said: "If you are a young person who has not received two doses of MMR or if you are the parent of a child who has missed their scheduled doses this is your opportunity to catch-up.
"The MMR is the safest and most effective way to protect children and young people from catching measles.
"If you think that your children may have missed one or both of the routine vaccinations, at one and three years old, it is not too late to get them protected. Attend one of these sessions, there is no need to book. If you are unsure of your children's vaccination status, please contact your GP surgery. If you were born before 1970, you are likely to be already immune to measles."
The measles outbreak was originally centred in Swansea but has now spread across Wales and into Shropshire.
There have been 1,292 cases reported across Wales since the beginning of November 2012.
School Nurses from Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust have been working with GP practices in the Oswestry area in a bid to help vaccinate children and young people who may not have had their full course of the MMR vaccine, which is essential for protecting people against measles.
Most of the cases of measles in Shropshire have been in the Oswestry area.
The GP practices running catch-up MMR sessions in the Oswestry area are Cambrian Medical Centre, Caxton Surgery and Plas Ffynnon.
