Walk-in MMR vaccination clinics to be held across Cork next week
Health officials are urging the public to ensure they are fully immunised against measles after an increase in diagnoses.
With a sixth case of measles confirmed in Ireland earlier this week, seven walk-in vaccination clinics will be held across Cork next week.
Cork Kerry Community Healthcare is calling on anyone who may not have had their MMR vaccination to make an appointment or come along to free walk-in clinics next week.
Dr Michael Hanrahan, a Cork specialist registrar in Public Health Medicine, said: “
“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.
The catch-up campaign focuses on delivering the MMR vaccine to key groups, who may have missed their vaccines in the past; children, young adults, healthcare workers born after January 1978 or from outside of Ireland, and anyone else born in Ireland after 1978 who may have missed an MMR vaccine.
MMR vaccines are available free-of-charge from GPs and from HSE community clinics for everyone eligible who is aged 5 years and over, including all age groups for those born outside of Ireland.
Parents of children under 18 years of age who may have missed routine vaccination should contact their GP to make an appointment for their child/children.
HSE vaccination teams will offer free MMR to young adults through vaccine clinics at third level educational settings for students and through HSE community vaccine clinics.
The following clinics are also open to walk-ins next week:
Carrigtwohill Primary Care Centre, T45 DT93 on Monday, March 25 from 10am-4pm.
Mallow Primary Care Centre, P51 Y8EC on Tuesday, March 26 from 10am-4pm.
Dunmanway Famine Room, P47 WN27 on Tuesday March 26 from 9:30am-12 noon.
Clonakilty Primary Care Centre, PR85 XW86 on Tuesday March 26 from 1.30pm-4pm.
Ballincollig Primary Care Centre, P31 XN96 on Wednesday, March 27 from 10am-4pm.
Nemo Rangers GAA Club, T12 R2PC on Friday, March 29 from 10am-3pm.
Bantry Vaccination Centre, P75 H304 on Friday, March 29 from 9am-2pm.
All healthcare workers, including staff working in non-HSE organisations, are advised to check locally with their Occupational Health Department or employer regarding provision of MMR vaccines, and staff can also attend their GP or a HSE community vaccination clinic.
If you are not sure if you have had the MMR vaccine when you were a child and cannot find your vaccination records, you are advised to get the vaccine now to make sure you’re protected, as it will not harm you to have the MMR vaccine again.
You can book a MMR vaccination clinic appointment at https://www2.hse.ie/services/mmr-vaccine/book-an-appointment/.
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