This makes it easy and quick to catch up on any missed jabs and get protected.
People aged five and over who have missed their MMR vaccinations can walk into a participating pharmacy to get their vaccination from a highly-trained pharmacist.
No appointment is needed, but there may be a wait for a pharmacist to become available. If the pharmacist is booked up you may be given an appointment to return.
The service follows a rise in measles cases in Greater Manchester.
Catching the disease can lead to life-changing issues such as blindness, deafness and swelling of the brain (encephalitis). Some people, including babies, pregnant women and people with weakened immunity, are at an increased risk of complications.
The MMR vaccination is not advised during pregnancy, but you can be vaccinated straight after giving birth even if you are breastfeeding.
It’s never too late to catch up
Dr Helen Wall, clinical director for population health at NHS Greater Manchester said: “Measles is one of the most infectious diseases in the world. It can cause serious harm to adults and children of all ages.
“Just two doses of the MMR vaccine can give life-long protection against becoming seriously unwell. With cases of measles on the rise, it’s not worth the risk of going without this vital protection.
“Two doses of the MMR vaccine are needed for maximum life-long protection, with the first dose given around a person’s first birthday and the second dose given at around three years and four months. However, anyone can catch up at any age on any missed doses and it’s never too late to protect yourself.
“It is especially important for those who are planning a pregnancy or who are postnatal to make sure they are fully vaccinated. As it is a live vaccine, MMR cannot be given during pregnancy. People should avoid getting pregnant for one month after having it, however following delivery the vaccine can be given at any time.”
Salford mum is urging people to get vaccinated
Rebecca Archer’s 10-year-old daughter Renae died in September 2023 from complications caused by measles as a baby. The Salford mum is urging parents to get their children vaccinated, and anyone else who isn’t fully vaccinated.
Renae caught measles at five months old when she was too young to be vaccinated.
Rebecca explained: “She was poorly for a few days. After that, everything went back to normal. She was fit and healthy.”
A decade later Reane has a seizure at school and Rebecca said: “She had one every week. They did an MRI scan and discovered there was some swelling on her brain. Her motor functions started to deteriorate; she just slowly couldn’t speak or eat.”
Renae was diagnosed with the rare brain disease subacute sclerosing panencephalitis caused by her previous measles infection.
Rebecca added: “That’s when they told me it was going to be fatal and we had to make a decision to turn the machines off.
“She’d not had the MMR because she was under 12 months old. If there wasn’t an outbreak and more kids had their vaccinations, then she wouldn’t have got measles in the first place. It wouldn’t have ultimately ended her life.”
“It’s like a nightmare, it’s still hard to believe that’s why Renae’s not here.”
Find out more about measles symptoms.
Find a pharmacy offering the MMR vaccination
