Measles Preparedness in Prisons - Digital Resources
Across Europe, over 50,000 measles cases were reported between January and March 2024.
Measles is a highly infectious virus, it can spread easily in prison-settings due to the close nature of the environment. An infectious person could result in many more cases. Measles can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening complications so it’s important to check you are protected against it.
Public Health Scotland (PHS) has been working with Scottish Prison Service (SPS), the National Prison Care Network Clinical Lead and the Scottish Ambulance Service to offer an “in-reach” MMR vaccination catch-up programme for those living in prisons, immigration removal centres and secure estates. This programme will begin in August 2024. Your healthcare team has been contacted by SPS to ascertain if you wish to take up this offer, or if you already have plans in place to deliver vaccinations in conjunction with Health Board Vaccination Teams.
To support this catch-up programme, PHS has developed the following resources to help inform staff and the prison population of the upcoming offer:
- Prison radio advert
- Digital screens to be used in communal settings
- Newsletter and website copy aimed at staff and prison population
- Lines to take document for staff.
All resources are available to download via the PHS Marketing Resource Centre.
Printed resources have also been developed and sent to all prisons, immigration removal centres and secure estates in Scotland. Online versions of these resources can be accessed here.
For more information on measles, please visit www.nhsinform.scot/MMRagainstMeasles
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