Council offers free vitamins to all children under four in Hackney
Hackney Council is reminding parents that it offers free vitamins to all children aged under four who live in the borough.
Due to the increase in cases of rickets England's Chief Medical Officer, Prof Dame Sally Davies said today (24 October) all children should be offered vitamin supplements to safeguard their health.
All children under four in Hackney can get free vitamins. Here in Hackney, the Council took the decision to pay for vitamins for all children, not just those on benefits or low incomes. It is vitally important that we invest in the health of every child and give them best start in life.
Under Hackney Council’s Healthy Start for All programme, all women who are pregnant, breast feeding or have had a baby in the last 12 months can receive free vitamins tablets, as well as vitamin drops to all children under the age of four. The children's vitamins drops include vitamin D which is important for building healthy bones and teeth.
Parents can sign up to Healthy Start for All at any local pharmacy in Hackney. Or they can ask at their GP surgery, their midwife or health visitor or staff at a Children’s Centre for a registration form. Once registered, they can pick up their vitamins every eight weeks at any local pharmacy without the need of any additional form or prescription.