EndocrinologyNHS South West Essex Launches Mobile MMR Clinic To Tackle Outbreak, UK
NHS South West Essex has launched an ambitious mobile MMR immunisation programme to improve vaccination rates among 20,000 at risk children.
The high-profile campaign follows a recent outbreak of mumps at a local school, and rising cases of measles; an estimated 20,000 children in the area have not completed their full MMR vaccination course.
Launched on 11 May, the 10-week campaign will see an eye-catching mobile clinic visit primary and secondary schools across the region - offering on-the-spot vaccinations to unprotected local children.
Carrying the slogan "Watch out measles about - and mumps too", the 8.5 metre vehicle has an on-board waiting room and two private consultation areas. It will be staffed by PCT nurses.
Parents will be notified by letter in advance of a school visit, and the campaign will also be publicised via the local media.
At weekends the clinic will visit busy community locations such as supermarkets, town centres and leisure centres - helping to raise awareness of the campaign and offering parents more opportunities to have their children vaccinated.
The campaign is being co-ordinated by health promotion specialist Event Marketing Solutions (EMS), which has extensive experience of helping PCTs and charities deliver mobile healthcare services.
EMS has designed and built the mobile clinic and has liaised with dozens of local schools to secure their participation in the programme - ensuring a comprehensive and targeted tour.
Kathy Abbott, Immunisation Manager for NHS South West Essex, said: "By taking the clinic out into the community - directly to where children and parents are - we hope to significantly improve vaccination levels.
"Parents" responses to previous MMR appeals have been disappointing, but this time we are offering them a very quick and convenient service, combined with a high-profile marketing campaign explaining why vaccination is so important."
Keith Austin, Managing Director of EMS, said: "Taking healthcare services out into the community is a proven way of improving uptake, especially among groups which are hard-to-reach.
"In this instance, a big part of our job was to secure the support of local schools - a vital element of the campaign."
EMS has also provided a "hit squad" of promotional staff who will visit schools during the first week of the tour - helping to raise awareness and drive visitors to the clinic.
The mobile MMR clinic launched on 11 May and will visit around 60 locations in South West Essex over 10 weeks. It will operate six days a week.
A 2007 mobile MMR immunisation campaign from EMS, for City and Hackney Teaching Primary Care Trust, resulted in 872 children being vaccinated over 42 days.
Notes
- Event Marketing Solutions (EMS) is the UK"s leading provider of vehicle-based marketing roadshows, specialising in creating and managing face-to-face campaigns in the UK and Continental Europe. The company has worked with City & Hackney PCT, Newham PCT, Diabetes UK and the British Heart Foundation on successful health promotion campaigns. http://www.eventms.com.
- NHS South West Essex is responsible for the healthcare of more than 420,000 people across the boroughs of Basildon, Brentwood and Thurrock. http://www.swessexpct.nhs.uk
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