Doctors worried about decline in babies getting vital vaccines
DOCTORS are concerned about a decline in the number of parents presenting children for routine vaccinations because of Covid-19 fears.
It comes as the HSE admitted delays in recording the number of vaccines administered since the crisis began.
These delays mean there is no new data available to measure the decline in vaccinations doctors are reporting.
Family doctors say there is anecdotal evidence of parents avoiding GP surgeries because of fears of contracting Covid-19.
The HSE said “recording of immunisation uptake records was proceeding but there may be delays in data inputting”.
It said immunisation data for the first three months of 2020 will give an insight into the impact Covid-19 has had on the uptake of immunisation, but added this information will not be available “until later in the year”.
Community health offices around the country are responsible for recording this information.
Vaccines for babies are recommended at two, four, six, 12 and 13 months and protect against 13 preventable diseases, including measles, mumps, polio and whooping cough.
The HSE also administers measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) and the HPV vaccinations to children through its school immunisation programme but this is on hold while schools are closed.
The HSE said it hopes to reinstate the programme when schools reopen.
Doctors are now appealing for parents to make appointments to have their children vaccinated at their local GP surgery.
President of the Irish College of General Practitioners Dr Mary Favier said childhood immunisations were vital.
She has urged parents to contact their local doctor to arrange vaccinations, insisting that GP surgeries are safe.
In many cases, doctors are making early morning appointments for newborn babies so they can attend surgeries immediately after they have been sanitised and before other patients have attended.
“In our surgeries we have put rigorous safety procedures in place to ensure there is social distancing for patients who have to attend in person,” said Dr Favier.
“We may not look open but we are here working in this ‘new normal’ way.
“GPs are prioritising childhood immunisations as an extremely important part of the continuing service that GPs provide.
“GPs are offering parents flexible options such as bringing young babies for childhood vaccinations first thing in the morning .”