Leading childcare provider Partou is supporting a national effort to boost the uptake of childhood vaccinations.
The campaign – co-ordinated by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the NHS – seeks to encourage families to give their child aged 0 to 5 the best possible protection against vaccine‑preventable diseases, including contacting their GP to check which vaccines children may have missed.
Vaccinations remain one of the most effective ways to protect children’s health. In England, the programme helps to prevent thousands of deaths and over 100,000 hospital admissions each year, ensuring children are protected from getting serious illnesses such as measles, mumps and whooping cough.
The uptake of childhood vaccinations for under 5s has declined in recent years, contributing to increases in cases of measles and whooping cough, and posing a generational risk from diseases that are preventable.
Partou is partnering with the DHSC, the UKHSA and the NHS to share messaging that helps families to make informed decisions about getting their children vaccinated.
This includes encouraging its more than 100 settings around the UK to display posters, incorporating key information in regular emails to Partou nursery managers with links to campaign assets, and posting the campaign across its social media channels.
Samantha Rhodes, Partou Managing Director, said: “We are happy to support this vital campaign and thank team members in our settings in all parts of the country for helping us to get its important health messages out there.
“Childhood infections like measles are highly infectious and can spread rapidly in local communities among those who are unvaccinated, affecting many young children.
“We urge families to take up the offer of the free NHS childhood immunisation programme to ensure their child has the best protection.
“We are also asking them to check their child’s red book to find out if children have missed any vaccines, or to ask their GP if they are unsure.
“Working together, I believe we can make a positive difference in curbing the spread of avoidable illness.”
