Following an outbreak of measles at Cavan General Hospital, the HSE has organised two vaccination catch-up clinics in Cavan and Monaghan. The HSE advise that the MMR vaccine is the only protection against measles and two doses of the vaccine are needed to give full protection. So far, there are 22 confirmed cases of measles in the HSE's Community Health Organisation 1 area which covers Dublin and the North East. Nationally, there has been 81 confirmed cases of the disease in 13 outbreaks.
There is currently a no-visiting policy in place at Cavan General while staff deal with an outbreak of measles there. The catch-up vaccine programme is aimed at groups who may have missed their vaccine in the past. The Cavan vaccination clinic is planned for Thursday, 8th August from 3 until 5pm at Ballinagh Health Clinic. In Monaghan, you can go along to the Community Vaccination Centre in the St Davnet's Campus on Tuesday, August 13th from 10am until 12 noon.
Northern Sound GP, Dr Illona Duffy, explains how it works: "So catch-up vaccine clinics are available now. The HSE are running one in Cavan and one in Monaghan. Also, you can have your catch-up vaccine with your GP," Dr Illona told Northern Sound, "And, there was periods of time during Covid when people missed having their child vaccinated or a few years ago when there were false concerns about the safety of the MMR vaccine so we can safely say it's one of safest vaccines because the most data has been gathered on it and it will prevent measles if you've had two vaccines. So, f you haven't had the two vaccines or you're unsure and born after 1978 then you can present and have the MMR vaccine for free."
