The capital’s worrying MMR vaccination rates and the risk of a measles epidemic are top of the agenda for a London Assembly meeting at City Hall tomorrow. Less than a month ago, figures from the NHS revealed that in 2007/08, fewer than half of children in the capital have had the MMR vaccine and booster by their fifth birthday. It also showed that the gap between coverage levels achieved in the capital and the national average is widening.
(Media-Newswire.com) - The capital’s worrying MMR vaccination rates and the risk of a measles epidemic are top of the agenda for a London Assembly meeting at City Hall tomorrow.
Less than a month ago, figures from the NHS revealed that in 2007/08, fewer than half of children in the capital have had the MMR vaccine and booster by their fifth birthday. It also showed that the gap between coverage levels achieved in the capital and the national average is widening.
Members of the London Assembly Health and Public Services Committee will ask top management at NHS London how the extra money provided by the Department of Health will be used to boost MMR rates. The Committee will also ask what plans are in place for dealing with a major measles epidemic in London.
Dr Simon Tanner, Regional Director of Public Health London and Health Adviser to the GLA, will attend to answer the Committee’s questions.
The meeting will take place on Wednesday, 22 October from 10am in the Chamber at City Hall ( The Queen’s Walk, London SE1 ). Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
Meetings are held at City Hall, The Queen’s Walk, London SE1 and are open to the media and members of the public. A more detailed list of agenda items is available at: http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/health_ps/2008/oct22/agenda.jsp As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor. James Cleverly AM, Chair of the Assembly’s Health and Public Services Committee, is available for interviews. For media enquiries, please contact Lisa Moore on 020 7983 4228. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.
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