Pharmacists could increase measles vaccine rollout, says Cork-based union president

WALK-IN MMR clinics are opening in Cork this week as part of the HSE’s vaccine catch-up programme.

Yesterday, the HSE announced its new campaign to protect against measles amid a rise in cases of the disease across Europe.

The vaccine will be delivered to key groups, including children and young adults, as well as health and care workers, who missed their vaccine in the past. The vaccine will be available from GPs and in special clinics.

The HSE is offering catch-up MMR vaccines to children under 18 who have missed routine vaccination, and parents should contact their GP to make an appointment.

HSE teams will also offer free MMR vaccines to young adults through clinics at third-level colleges and through HSE community vaccine clinics.

A vaccine portal, for people aged five and older, is open for appointments to book for MMR in community settings at: www2.hse.ie/services/mmr-vaccine/.

A walk-in vaccine clinic opened in Bantry yesterday and the following clinics are open to walk-ins today: Newmarket Primary Care, P51 W2PY (from 10am-4pm) and Kinsale Primary Care Centre, P17 RY11 (from 9am-3pm).

A walk-in clinic will open in Skibbereen Dental Building, P81 HC43, on Thursday, from 9am-4pm, and in Teach Mhuire, Mayfield, T23 Y820 on Friday, from 10am-4pm

All healthcare workers, including staff in non-HSE organisations, are advised to check locally with their occupational health department or employer regarding provision of MMR vaccines, or to attend their GP or a HSE community vaccination clinic.

Dr Michael Hanrahan, specialist registrar in public health medicine, said that the free MMR vaccine clinics offer a safe and effective way to protect people from measles.

“I want to emphasise the importance of getting vaccinated against measles,” Dr Hanrahan said. “Measles is a highly contagious virus that can cause serious illness. Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, and a rash all over the body. In severe cases, it can lead to complications, such as pneumonia and brain swelling, which can be life-threatening or cause life-long disabilities.”

While the vaccine will be available in GPs and in special clinics around Cork, pharmacists have called on the Government to include them in the catch-up scheme .

FLU VACCINE 'HUGE SUCCESS'

Dermot Twomey, of Cloyne Pharmacy and president of the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), said that making the MMR vaccine available through them would ensure more people took it.

“Pharmacists have been providing the flu vaccine since 2010, and we provided the covid vaccine with huge success,” said Mr Twomey.

“In the last few years, up to 30% of vaccines were given through pharmacies.

“We think we are part of the solution here: Internationally, all data shows that when pharmacists get involved in vaccinating, the numbers of those taking it increased exponentially.

“A certain cohort of people will get vaccinated in their GP, but once pharmacies came into play the numbers increased.”

Mr Twomey said that pharmacy vaccinations are also beneficial for “anyone for whom English wasn’t their first language or people who have difficulty attending vaccination centres or had issues with transport and were a long way away from a GP surgery”.

It shouldn’t be “either-or” when it comes to doctors and pharmacists providing vaccinations, Mr Twomey said, adding: “The more opportunities that are out there to get the population vaccinated to the level it needs to be, the better.”

Pharmacists are concerned about a widespread measles outbreak, Mr Twomey said.

“We’re very watchful in terms of rashes, seeing if they could be measles and referring people where necessary,” he said.

“There’s definitely a heightened awareness around it, and one of the first questions we ask parents is: ‘Has your child got their MMR vaccine?’ We are able to help with this push: It would be a discussion between the Department and the IPU as to how it would happen, but pharmacists haven’t been found wanting thus far.”