Shocking disparities in vaccine take-up show failure in safeguards

4.42.52pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 26th Sep 2008

Jenny Randerson is deeply concerned about the figures

Welsh Lib Dem Spokesperson for Health, Jenny Randerson AM, has accused the Labour/Plaid Government of failing children in some of Wales' poorest areas after she revealed figures showing massive disparities in the uptake of a life-saving vaccine for teenagers and widespread failure of children vaccinated in Gwent.

Uptake of the Teenage 3 in 1 booster that offers protection from Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio is as low as 5.8% in Blaenau Gwent and 9.7% in Caerphilly.

Jenny Randerson said: "These figures are quite shocking, I understand that this vaccine, although available for many years has only been monitored from fairly recently. I also understand that the specific problems in Gwent are caused through a communications breakdown whereby schools stopped giving the vaccine and wrongly assumed that GPs were picking up the slack as has happened elsewhere.

"Even if these problems are now being addressed, it is scandalous that in the 21st century, a situation like this can be allowed to arise. Thousands of children may have missed out on this vaccine that offers protection from three very serious diseases."

"The Government must make sure that a situation as serious as this never happens again. I have written to the Minister today to seek assurances of this."

Notes:

Source: National Public Health Service For Wales

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