Parents urged to vaccinate children before new term

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued an urgent call to parents to ensure their children catch up on missed vaccinations before they head to the classroom.

This comes as UKHSA scales up their Childhood Immunisation Marketing Campaign across England amid fears of a further surge in measles cases.

The campaign, delivered by UKHSA in partnership with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England, will remind parents and carers of the risk of their children missing out on protection against serious diseases, including measles, whooping cough, meningitis, diphtheria and polio.

Since autumn last year, there have been a number of major measles outbreaks in the West Midlands, North West and London with sporadic cases across the country – resulting in the highest number of cases in England since 2012.

An MMR Evaluation Report published by UKHSA shows that parents are coming forward to vaccinate their children and there has been a significant increase in MMR uptake, particularly among deprived and ethnic communities. 

The report shows between August 2023 and April 2024, the NHS has delivered 180,000 additional doses, with over 51,000 of these given to children aged 5 or under.

Over 13 per cent of previously unvaccinated children aged five or under were vaccinated with dose 1 during the campaign period compared to baseline.

However, MMR uptake rates are still too low in some areas in England and there is potential to see outbreaks, particularly as children start mixing more on starting or returning to school.

Measles spreads very easily among those who are unvaccinated, especially in nurseries and schools. 

Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: "It is encouraging that parents, whose children have missed vaccines are now coming forward, but we are a long way from ensuring all are protected and safe. And importantly vaccination is also about not spreading the disease to others who may be more vulnerable.

"Measles is highly infectious and is still circulating in many areas across the country. It only takes one case to get into a school or nursery where many children are unprotected for numbers to suddenly surge."

The campaign will share the urgent message that “if children aren’t vaccinated, they’re not protected” with parents across the country for the next six weeks. This will go live as the new early years settings and school term begins, in an attempt to prevent a rise in measles cases similar to that seen in October 2023.

Minister for public health and prevention Andrew Gwynne said vaccination are the best form of protect against measles.