26 September 2019
Parents Need to Be Aware of The Clear-Cut Evidence on Vaccination Safety, Says RCGP
Responding to today's NHS Digital figures on routine childhood vaccination rates, Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, said
"Even a small drop in the take-up of vaccinations is disheartening and very concerning. Our efforts to eradicate potentially serious - but entirely preventable diseases - had been going so well, but we are now seeing a rise in the numbers of cases of measles and mumps.
"We are aware of the destructive anti-vaccination messages that are circulating online and via social media, and these are perpetuating toxic myths that are not backed by any evidence or false claims that have been completely debunked.
"Parents need to be aware of the clear, evidence-based findings about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines.
"It is also important for people to understand that the decision to vaccinate their child doesn't just affect them, but society as a whole, and that it would be incredibly dangerous if we were to lose the protection of herd immunisation against a host of serious, and potentially deadly, diseases."
Further Information
RCGP Press office: 020 3188 7633/7574/7575
Out of hours: 0203 188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk
Notes
The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 53,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.