School nurses called in to fight Shropshire measles outbreak
A?team of school nurses has been called in to help contain the growing measles outbreak in Shropshire, it emerged today.
At the start of this month Shropshire had 41 cases of measles, with more than half in the Oswestry area.
Latest figures show Shropshire now has 47 – six confirmed cases and 41 suspected cases.
In Telford and Wrekin there have been no confirmed cases but 24 suspected cases.
The measles outbreak is a particular problem in Oswestry and health bosses said school nurses have been working with GP practices to help vaccinate children and young people who may not have had their full course of the MMR vaccine.
Health chiefs say there have been localised outbreaks of measles in the past few weeks across England and Wales, including in Powys, and there have recently been confirmed cases in the Oswestry area.
They say town GP practices have offered special clinics to provide those who have not had their full vaccination course with an opportunity to "catch up".
Maggie Bayley, director of nursing and quality for Shropshire Community Health Trust, said: "Our school nurses are skilled in providing vaccinations to children and young people, and are used to answering any questions or concerns.
"This is about the local NHS pulling together to make sure local people get the care and protection they need."
Dr Caron Morton, accountable officer speaking on behalf of Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "We are working hard to make sure that all those patients who have not completed their MMR vaccination get the opportunity to do so.
"The GP practices in Oswestry have been in contact with all relevant patients – either by phone or letter – and hope that they will come along to get vaccinated."