'Last call' for free, walk-in vaccine clinics on Limerick third level campuses

PUBLIC Health HSE Mid West have put out a “last call” for students and young people in Limerick to avail of free, walk-in MMR vaccines at third level campuses.

The HSE Mid West vaccination team is asking young people to check their MMR status by asking their parents, their GPs, or their Local Immunisation Office if they missed out on their MMR vaccines as children.

The campus clinics that were provided this month mark the end of the current catch-up MMR vaccine campaign.

Public Health HSE Mid West is encouraging all students to avail of the free programme this week, before the campaign finishes. 

Clinics will be held in Shannon College of Hotel Management on September 24 from 12-4pm, TUS Moylish Campus on September 25 from 10am-3pm, Mary Immaculate College on September 26 from 10am-3pm, and the University of Limerick on September 27 from 9am-3:30pm.

The clinic at TUS will be open to the public in surrounding communities.

Those eligible are those born in Ireland from January 1, 1978 and do not have evidence of two MMR vaccines, or those born outside of Ireland of any age who do not have evidence of two MMR vaccines.

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Following widespread measles outbreaks across Ireland, the UK, and Europe this year, the Mid-West has experienced its highest number of measles cases since 2018, with a recent outbreak in Clare, linked to other areas, involving up to 16 cases - the largest among recent outbreaks.

Across Ireland, young adults aged between 15 and 24 years of age account for a significant proportion of confirmed measles cases. 

Young people who have not received their MMR vaccines, dose one at 12 months and dose two in junior infants, are vulnerable to measles infection which can cause serious illness.

MMR vaccination uptake remains around 91% in the Mid-West region, below the WHO-recommended target of 95%.

Dr Kenneth Beatty, consultant in Public Health Medicine, Public Health HSE Mid West, said that while many people are fully vaccinated against measles, a small number of young people, particularly among those attending college, may not have had one or both vaccines.

“We are concerned about the increased number of measles outbreaks across the Mid-West and Ireland, which is why we want young people to make sure that they have their two doses of MMR vaccines. It is possible that a number of young people may not be fully vaccinated, partly due to a period of misinformation and disinformation in the late 1990s and early 2000s around MMR vaccination. Our HSE clinics will include information stands on the day, and we are encouraging all students to speak with our team about the importance of vaccination.”