Teams from both Westmorland and Furness Council and Cumberland Council, alongside NHS colleagues are inviting families across Cumbria to come and learn more about protecting children from childhood diseases and the importance of vaccination.
As part of the “Be Wise, Immunise” campaign, teams will be present at a series of community events and shopping locations to provide trusted information, answer questions, and guide parents to local vaccination services.
Families will have the opportunity to meet health professionals in an informal setting, ask questions about the childhood vaccines, and get clear advice on how to keep children safe and protected.
Upcoming Events (you can attend any of these, regardless of where you live)
- Saturday 30th August – Harbour Fest, Whitehaven (Cumberland)
- Saturday 13th September – Market Place, Kendal ( W and F)
- Friday 19th September – Morrisons, Barrow (W and F)
- Saturday 20th September – Hollywood Retail Park, Barrow (W and F)
- Saturday 27th September – Dunmail Shopping Centre, Workington (Cumberland)
- Friday 10th October – The Lanes Shopping Centre, Carlisle (Cumberland)
- Saturday 11th October – The Lanes Shopping Centre, Carlisle (Cumberland)
Why it matters
Preventable childhood infections such as Measles are highly infectious and can cause serious health complications, particularly for children. Keeping up to date with routine vaccinations is the most effective way to keep children safe.
Cllr Patricia Bell, Westmorland and Furness portfolio holder for Public Health and Communities added: “These drop-in sessions are a good opportunity for parents and carers to find out more about how to prevent childhood infections, and other health issues. They can ask questions and make a decision based on clear and factual information. People can attend any of the dates/ locations to suit them. ”
Cllr Justin McDermott, Cumberland Councillor and Portfolio Holder for Public Health and Communities, said: “It’s really important that families feel supported and informed when it comes to protecting their children’s health. By bringing this campaign into busy community spaces, we’re making it easier for parents to get the advice they need and understand how simple it is to access vaccinations locally.”
Katrina Stephens, Director of Public Health at Westmorland and Furness Council, said : “Every parent wants the best start in life for their child and community events such as these are about supporting parents and families to ask questions and get the information they need to make informed decisions about protecting their children’s health”
Colin Cox, Director of Public Health, Customer and Community Wellbeing at Cumberland Council, added: “These events are about giving parents and families the chance to ask questions and get clear, trusted information in a relaxed setting. We want to make sure every child in Cumbria has the best protection possible against unpleasant and potentially dangerous infections such as measles.”