All the Trafford pharmacies offering the MMR to walk-ins

It comes in the wake of an increase in the cases of measles attributable at least in part to the number of children who are either unvaccinated or undervaccinated.

Three Trafford pharmacies – Davey's Chemist, Partington, Village Pharmacy, Sale, and Timperley Pharmacy, Timperley – are amongst more than a dozen across Greater Manchester and more than 40 across the North West offering the MMR vaccination to walk-ins who are over the age of five.

Typically no planned appointment is needed although if the pharmacist is booked up or busy it is possible people will be asked to return for a planned appointment.

Dr Helen Wall, Clinical Director for Population Health at NHS GM, said: "Measles is one of the most infectious diseases in the world and it can cause serious harm to adults and children of all ages.

"Just two doses of the MMR vaccine can give life-long protection against becoming seriously unwell, so with cases of measles on the rise, it is not worth the risk of going without this vital protection."

As of April 4 there were 54 cases of measles in the North West since October 1 of last year and 934 cases of measles in the country since October 1 of last year.

The disease can cause complications including blindness, deafness and encephalitis, a swelling of the brain, particularly in any people who are immunocompromised.

There is no treatment although two doses of the vaccination, usually at the age of one and before the age of five, provide protection.

Anyone without one or both doses of the vaccination can catch up at any time as long as their two doses are at least a month apart.

Here are the Trafford pharmacies:
Davey's Chemist, Warburton Lane, Partington, M31 4WJ
Village Pharmacy, Green Lane, Sale, M33 5PN
Timperley Pharmacy, Stockport Road, Timperley, WA15 7UN

For information about measles go to nhs.uk/conditions/measles.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.