MMR Vaccine is the only protection against measles

Community Healthcare Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo

The HSE has advised that the MMR Vaccine is the only protection against measles.

Two doses of MMR Vaccine in your lifetime are needed to give full protection.

The HSE MMR vaccine catch up programme is now running in community vaccination clinics across Sligo and Leitrim.

Measles is a highly infectious disease that can cause serious complications, particularly in children under one year of age, pregnant women, and the immunosuppressed.

The MMR catch-up campaign aims to protect against measles due to a rise in cases of the disease in the UK and Europe.

The campaign focuses on delivering the MMR vaccine to key groups, who may have missed their vaccines in the past:

• Children
• Young adults
• Health and Care workers

Those eligible are those born in Ireland from 1.1.1978 and do not have evidence of two MMR vaccines or if born outside of Ireland and do not have evidence of two MMR vaccines at any age.

MMR vaccines are available free of charge from GPs to all groups, but primarily to those under 18 years, and from HSE community clinics for everyone eligible who is aged 5 years and over.

A list of Vaccination Clinics is available here: https://www2.hse.ie/services/mmr-vaccine/vaccination-clinics.

All clinics are walk-in or you can book an appointment by visiting: https://www2.hse.ie/services/mmr-vaccine/book-an-appointment.

Additionally, the HSE will also provide targeted clinics for specific groups including students and young people in education settings and underserved groups . 

Further information about measles symptoms is available at: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/mmr-vaccine.

If you have these symptoms, please seek medical advice. Phone ahead prior to attending your GP, Emergency Department or other healthcare provider to inform the healthcare professionals that you have these symptoms, so they can make necessary arrangements. In addition, please alert medical staff if you have been in contact with someone who has measles or if you have recently travelled to an area where you know measles has been spreading.

Sinead McConnell, Vaccination Lead, Community Healthcare Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo said “The MMR catch-up campaign aims to protect against measles due to a rise in cases of the virus in the UK and Europe. Two doses of MMR vaccine are needed to be fully vaccinated and if not fully protected then MMR vaccines can be obtained from your GP or HSE Vaccination Clinic.” 

Sligo

• Tuesday March 26th - Enniscrone Primary Care Centre, F26 R8X3 - 10.15am to 12.30pm
• Tuesday March 26th - Sligo Community Vaccination Base, F91 CD34 - 2.15pm to 4pm
• Thursday March 28th - Sligo Community Vaccination Base, F91 CD34 - 11.45am to 2pm
• Thursday March 28th - Ballymote Primary Care Centre - 3.30pm to 6pm
• Friday March 29th - Sligo Community Vaccination Base, F91 CD34 - 11.45 to 2.30pm and 3pm to 6pm
• Saturday March 30th - Sligo Community Vaccination Base, F91 CD34 - 9am to 1.30pm

Leitrim

• Thursday March 28th - Leitrim Community Vaccination Base, N41 XC59 - 12.30pmto 2.30pm and 3pm to 6pm
• Friday March 29th - Leitrim Community Vaccination, N41 XC59 - 3pm to 6pm
• Friday March 29th - Dromod Primary Care Centre ,N41 XP03 - 12.30pm to 2.30pm
• Thursday March 28th - Ballymote Primary Care Centre - 3.30pm to 6pm
• Saturday March 30th - Leitrim Community Vaccination Base , N41 XC59 - 10am to 1pm