Travelling football fans urged to get measles vaccine for Euro 2012

Date: 10/05/2012. Story submitted by: CarolineMc

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With a month to go until the start of the 2012 UEFA European Football Championships in Poland and Ukraine, the NHS Walk-In Centre on Broad Lane is urging travellers to ensure their vaccinations are up to date, particularly measles.

Due to an outbreak of measles in the Ukraine, the World Health Organisation and the Foreign Office are advising all travellers to the country to make sure they are vaccinated against the disease.

Christian Ellwood, Operations Manager at the Walk-In Centre, said: "We are advising all patients to meet with their practice nurse immediately if they are travelling to Euro 2012 so that they can be vaccinated in time. If you do not and you are not immune from measles, you risk being infected and you may spread measles to others."

Measles is an acute viral illness, it is very infectious and is spread from person to person by coughs and sneezes. There has been a large outbreak of the disease in the Ukraine, with over 5,000 cases since the beginning of 2012. Football fans should protect themselves by checking that they are up to date with their MMR vaccine.

Christian added: "Considering the huge expense many fans are incurring going to the finals it would be a great shame to miss the matches because of measles."

Euro 2012 takes place from June, 8 to July, 1 2012. Two England group games are to be playedin Donetsk, Ukraine.

The MMR vaccine is available to everyone on private prescription and costs £35. You do not need to be a registered patient of the NHS Walk-In Centre.

Contact reception on 0114 241 2700 for more information.

Additional info

Address: Broad Lane Sheffield S1 3PB

Tags: Broad Lane walk in centre, measles, Euro 2012, football