Having those important conversations about childhood immunisations
To best protect against measles, mumps, and rubella outbreaks, 95% of our children need to have received the MMR vaccine. However, in Islington, coverage is only at 65-70%. Suzanne Wilebore joined us in September 2023 as our childhood immunisations outreach worker. Suzanne has delivered a community engagement programme aimed at parents and carers in the borough’s most deprived wards. She has been working to raise awareness of the benefits of getting children up-to-date with their vaccines.
As well as raising awareness, we've offered longer, one-to-one conversations with parents who needed reassurance or wished to talk through their questions and concerns. Suzanne also helped with appointment booking and making information available in a range of community languages. In addition, she identified a number of opportunities to strengthen childhood immunisations services. In particular, developing the training given to non-medical staff in Early Years and at children's centres.
I’m noticing more conversations between parents and staff and personally, I feel more aware and more involved.
Our impact
Between September 2023 and the end of March 2024:
- we've reached 118 parents and carers in community settings
- 18 one-to-one conversations with parents who wanted more information
- 93 professionals given robust information and resources addressing parental concerns
- We’ve worked with Islington Council to develop and deliver a training programme ‘talking to parents and carers about childhood immunisations’ to staff in Early Years and children’s centres. These non-medical staff have trusted relationships with parents and opportunities to positively influence their decisions.
