Measles

Important information from NHS Wales

(April, 2024)

• Measles is currently spreading in the UK with large outbreaks in areas such as the West
Midlands and other parts of England. A significant number (1 in 5) of unvaccinated
children who have contracted measles have required hospital treatment
• Measles can spread very quickly among children and adults who are not vaccinated and
can cause some people to become seriously unwell and in rare circumstances die
• Measles is spread by the respiratory route. It spreads easily when an infected person
breathes, coughs or sneezes. A person with measles is infectious (can spread the disease
to other people) from four days before the typical rash appears
• The best way to protect your family is for you and your children to have had the scheduled
two doses of the MMR, a safe and effective vaccine that protects against Measles,
Mumps and Rubella.

MMR should be given in accordance with the standard immunisation schedule below:
Age: One year old (on or after the child’s first birthday)

Age: Three years and four months or soon after

• If you or your children are not up-to-date with your vaccines in accordance with the above
schedule, contact your GP and they will arrange for you to receive the MMR
• For more information about MMR, speak to your GP

We are asking parents to be alert for symptoms of measles and to not send their children to
childcare settings if they are unvaccinated (i.e. when a vaccine was due in accordance with the above schedule but has not been received) and have any of the symptoms below:
• cold-like symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing and cough
• red, sore, watery eyes
• high temperature (fever)
• rash that usually starts on the head/neck before spreading down the body
• small white spots inside cheeks and the back of lips

It's very unlikely to be measles if you've had 2 doses of the MMR vaccine or if you've had measles
before. If you or your child develops these symptoms and are unvaccinated, please call your GP
or NHS 111. The person with suspected measles should not go to any health setting (GP, hospital
or pharmacy) without ringing ahead first and advising of any symptoms that might suggest
measles.

For further information please visit Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) - Public Health Wales (nhs.wales) and Measles - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Best Start Hub

Preconception, Pregnancy, Early Years and Family

The Best Start Hub provides useful information, advice and support for you and your family - from the stages of planning your pregnancy through to your baby’s early years and beyond.

These resources have been developed to help provide the best start for you and your family. Discover the range of health and wellbeing information during the below phases in life:

• Preconception - planning your pregnancy
• During pregnancy
• Labour and birth
• You and your baby
• You and your child
• Teenagers and young people's health

Simply click on the web link below for full details...

Measles Information, February 2024

Flu Immunisation, Thursday 26th October

Help keep your child well this winter – make sure they have their flu vaccine.

Deadline for consent is 12pm, 25th October

Dear parent or guardian,

It’s very important to protect your child from flu to make sure they stay as healthy as possible, as both COVID-19 and flu are likely to circulate this winter. The best flu vaccine for most children is a nasal spray. This is the vaccine that will be given on the day. 

We have included flu vaccination information and a consent form with this letter. To help make sure the vaccine is suitable for your child, and they don’t miss out, please take time to read the information and then complete online before the planned vaccination date.

If you want more information about flu vaccination for children, please contact the immunisation team, or visit  phw.nhs.wales/fluvaccine or click on the PDF attachments.

Please keep this letter, as it contains the date of the vaccination session and contact details.

Yours faithfully

Immunisation Team

After you have returned the consent form, please contact the immunisation team on 03000 858599 before the vaccination session if:

·         there are any changes to your child’s health, or

·         their asthma medication is increased, or

·         they are prescribed oral steroids, or

·         they become wheezy.

Note: There are a very small number of children who should not have the nasal flu vaccine. Please see the information sheet for more detail, or look at phw.nhs.wales/fluvaccine

Flu Animation Film for Primary School Children

Flu can be very serious for children and young people. This autumn, all children and young people in school from Reception class to school Year 11 will be offered immunisation. Watch this film with your child to find out more...

Welsh Blood Service

Donating blood can take only minutes to give, but could last a lifetime for someone in need.

Save a life in your area.

Book here: https://wbs.wales/HawardenVillageChurchSchool

The Sleep Charity

Empowering the nation to sleep better through evidence-based advice, support, training and working in partnership.

Helpline Number: 03303 530 541

Increase in scarlet fever and invasive group A streptococcal disease (iGAS)

December 2022

Please digest the contents of the letter and symptom checker below carefully, thank you. 

Medication in School 

Ideally, children should be given their medication before and after school. If this is not possible, please complete the consent form below or come into school to give your child their dose. Please NEVER put medication in children's bags - it must be brought to the main office. 

Children with ongoing health issues should have a Health Plan set up with our First Aid Coordinator, Mrs Lisa Mushrow. Please email the office for a relevant form. 

Thank you.

A message from NHS Wales...

Maintaining the health and well-being of our children remains a priority for us all.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) is running a child vaccination campaign called ‘Vaccinate Your Child on Time’. The campaign encourages us to make sure our children get their routine vaccinations when they are offered. These vaccinations provide the best protection against a range of potentially serious diseases, such as measles, mumps and rubella.

Don’t worry if you think your child may have missed a vaccination; it’s not too late to catch up.

Well known Voice of the Campaign

Lois Cernyw, Heart Radio's Drive Time Presenter has also supported the campaign by getting the message out to local parents & carers.  

As a mother of a 12-month-old Lois Cernyw believes strongly in taking her little boy Iago to have the MMR vaccination next month: "My advice would be don’t delay your child’s vaccinations, even during these difficult times. The benefits really do outweigh the concerns that you might have.”

To see Lois sharing her thoughts as a parent in regard to the MMR Vaccination, and for more case studies and information, please visit the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board Vaccination pages https://bcuhb.nhs.wales/health-advice/immunisations/mmr

Please remember that you can also contact your GP Practice or Health Visitor if you have any specific questions.