Column: Vaccination is prevention at its simplest

It was great to visit Kingsbury Court Surgery in Dunstable over the summer and hear about a real success story. They’ve significantly boosted the number of local children protected by vaccines.

Dr Khan thought the outbreak in Enfield, where every child who was hospitalised was unvaccinated, was a real warning shot, alongside the UK losing its World Health Organisation measles elimination status. 

So his team have sprung into action, giving more patients more confidence and making it more convenient to get their children jabbed. They tackle myths head-on with a snazzy display board at the surgery with messages in plain English and by rebutting claims online. Plus, they go out to speak directly to parents at local nurseries as well as children’s centres and crèche groups.

Back at the surgery, there are regular vaccination clinics while the team chases up to make sure everyone’s booking appointments.

I have to say my only complaint about Kingsbury Court is they made me feel rather ancient! Apparently most of the mums and dads have never had diseases like mumps and measles and therefore think they are from a time long, long ago!

That’s, of course, part of the challenge. The very success of vaccines can make it easy to forget why they matter.

The good news is the hard work at Kingsbury Court is paying off. They’ve upped their vaccination rate by nine percentage points in just 12 months.

I was pleased to highlight their success during a debate in Parliament last week. As I told the Minister, I think that is a jab well done! 

Vaccines are, after all, one of the greatest public health successes ever invented. A British success story, from Edward Jenner’s pioneering smallpox vaccine right through to today.

Britain’s childhood vaccination programme now protects youngsters against 14 diseases, including measles, mumps and, since this year, chickenpox. Childhood vaccines prevent around 5,000 deaths and more than 228,000 hospital admissions every year.

Of course, it is perfectly reasonable for parents to have questions. Nobody should feel embarrassed about asking them. The answer is trusted information from GPs, nurses and other healthcare professionals.

The Government’s ten-year health plan rightly puts much greater emphasis on preventing illness in the first place. Vaccination is prevention at its simplest: fewer sick children, fewer missed school days and fewer parents having to take time off work.

In Dunstable we can see that approach is delivering results.