From October 2013, the HSE school vaccination teams will deliver the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) and 4:1 (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio) booster to all children in the Junior Infants classes of the Dublin/North East region.
During the past year there have been reports in the media of large outbreaks of measles in Ireland and Europe. These outbreaks have occurred because many young people have not received the recommended two doses of MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine at 12 months and the booster at 4-5 years of age (pre-school).
Since 2010, Ireland and the HSE are committed to the World Health Organisation’s European strategy to eliminate measles by 2015. In this regard, the 2011/2012 statistics on the uptake for MMR2 at 4-5 years of age are 72-76% in the Dublin North East region, with the target uptake of greater than 95% not having been achieved.
Much of the evidence from international literature and the HSE's experience in other regional areas in Ireland indicate that the best way to achieve a greater than 95% uptake of MMR2 (pre-school booster) is through a school based approach
The current process of vaccination for the pre-school booster at the GP surgery in areas where this service is not currently school based will cease from October 2013.
You can view further details from the circular which has been sent out to primary schools here:
www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active.../cl0043_2013.pdf
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