 Health officials are worried too few people have been immunised |
A campaign to vaccinate young adults against mumps has been stepped up in Kent and Medway. Health officials are concerned that in special clinics organised across the county, the take up among 16-25 year-olds has only been around 50%.
Dr Mathi Chandrakumar, director of the Kent Health Protection Unit said the vaccination is very important because "mumps can be very serious"
More sessions have been set up as part of a national emergency plan.
'Not important'
The vaccination programme was announced after cases in Kent rose from 39 last year to 113 so far in 2004.
Dr Chandrakumar said: "young people tend to feel that it doesn't happen to them or is something that is not important."
He emphasised the programme is not just for students, anyone aged between 16 and 25 is eligible for the vaccine.
On Thursday, clinics are at North Kent College in both Dartford and Gravesend and at the University of Greenwich, Chatham.
Further sessions will be held on Friday at Mid Kent College, Rochester and Minster College, Sheppey.
Next week people can be vaccinated in Maidstone, Tonbridge and Folkestone.
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