Pop-up vaccination clinics are being held this month in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire following a rise in measles cases in the area.

Three sessions are being held in Stoke-on-Trent this week for anyone who is not up to date with their MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccination, with a further two organised for Burton in the coming weeks.

They have been organised by NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB), in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire County Council, after the West Midlands saw one of the highest numbers of measles cases in England during the past year.

Latest figures from the UK Health Security Agency for the week ending March 24 revealed that there were two measles cases reported in Stoke-on-Trent and seven in Staffordshire, with three in Cannock Chase and one each in East Staffordshire, Lichfield, Newcastle and South Staffordshire. In the past 12 months up to March 24 there have been 70 measles cases reported across the West Midlands.

Three sessions are being held in Stoke-on-Trent this week for anyone who is not up to date with their MMR vaccination (Unsplash).

County and borough councillor Jill Hood described the rise in measles cases in Staffordshire as a "concerning thing" at Tuesday's Stone Town Council meeting, (April 2) where she told fellow councillors of the vaccination clinics taking place this month. She said: "Those not vaccinated can suffer serious problems."

Children are offered an MMR vaccination when they are a year old and a second dose as a "pre-school booster" when they are three years and four months old. Vaccines that do not contain porcine (pork) gelatine are available on request for cultural or religious reasons.

Matthew Missen, Consultant Public Health at NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICT, said: "Most children in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent are vaccinated, but a few may have missed vaccinations for many reasons – these clinics are an extra opportunity to bring vaccinations up to date. Measles can be really serious, and vaccination offers a high level of protection against a potentially dangerous disease.

"We're asking all parents and carers to check their child's Red Book to see if their children have missed any vaccines or they can check with their GP practice if they're unsure. If any doses have been missed, or if no MMR vaccines have been given, we're urging parents to bring their children along to one of our pop-up clinics to get them vaccinated.

Another clinic will take place at Stoke Library on Friday 5 April (Unsplash).

"There are lots of celebrations at this time of year where families and friends will be mixing including Ramadan, Easter and Eid al-Fitr. It's important that people are protected during these times of social gathering."

The first session in Stoke on Trent took place on Wednesday (April 3) at Tunstall Family Hub. There will also be pop-up clinics at Stoke Library on Friday (April 5) and Dimensions Leisure Centre on Saturday (April 6), both running between 9.30am and 3.30pm.

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