Childhood vaccine uptake in England fell again across all 14 measures tracked by the NHS in the past year, the annual report has shown.
No vaccines met the 95% target for coverage, the data for 2023/24 shows and particular concerns were raised about uptake of key vaccines by five years of age.
The further declines in uptake come despite ongoing pleas from public health experts for parents to have their children immunised amidst outbreaks of whooping cough and measles.
Ongoing downward trends have been noted for several vaccines including the 6-in1 jab which fell from 91.8% to 91.2% uptake by 12 months in 2023/24.
But the data also points to national disparities with the North East being the only region to hit the 95% target compared with London where only 86.2% of one year olds had been vaccinated.
Uptake of the 6-in-1 by the age of five years is now at 92.6% – its lowest level since 2008/09 and following a decade of hitting the 95% target until the pandemic.
The first dose of MMR has now been under 90% nationally for three years in a row, the figures show and uptake of the second dose has also declined in all regions.
Wales and Scotland continue to have better rates of uptake including hitting World Health Organisation targets with 95% or above for the 6-in-1 vaccine.
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) officials renewed calls for parents to check their child’s vaccination record.
Dr Vanessa Saliba, UKHSA consultant epidemiologist, said: ‘As a mum and doctor, I know the additional stress that comes with having a sick child.
‘I encourage all parents to take up the offer of vaccinations for their children at the right time, to give them the best protection from preventable diseases.
Childhood vaccines prevent babies and children from suffering needlessly and can even be life-saving.’
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health called on the Government to implement the commitments made in the NHS Vaccine Strategy.
RCPCH Officer for Health Services, Dr Helen Stewart, said: ‘The result of this trend is being felt already, with measles outbreaks occurring across the UK, increasing cases of whooping cough and poliovirus being found sewage samples in London.
‘When investigating NHS services, the recently published Darzi Review noted the impact declining vaccine uptake is having on our children and called for urgent action.
‘We understand that vaccine hesitancy may be an issue in some instances, but evidence shows that accessibility and availability of health appointments plays a huge role in low uptake.
‘We urge the UK Government to take forward the commitments of the NHS’s vaccine strategy and work towards reversing this dangerous trend.’
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Would be very interested to have more detail on which groups of children aren’t getting vaccinated. The North East does well apparently but not London. Who are these kids any why aren’t they getting vaccinated? The absence of further detail is odd.
There are four things affecting this :
1) The Covid-jab debacle, and loss of trust in vaccine manufacturers and authorising processes
2) reduced trust in authorities recommending vaccines because of mistrust in Government, after 14 years of seeing increasingly untruthful government and public figures
3) Vaccine programme about-turns in who can and can’t have which jabs when, and general vaccine-fatigue and overload – not in an immune sense, but in a psychosocial sense
4) the way completion to programme is measured.
5) – and then there is access to vaccines and vaccinators.
Please stop ‘pleading for parents to get their children vaccinated to reach the target’ ! Why should they care about YOUR TARGETs!
Instead, just tell them what the diseases are like, and that there is a safe vaccine which they can have for their children if hey wish to prevent that illness.
I have seen someone dying of Tetanus, which is untreatable, and utterly horrific. I have seen people impaired by Polio.
Make truthful information, vaccines (and choice, not coercive options) and vaccinators available, and stop trying to presssurise people, and they will take what is on offer. (Especially when GPs are telling them about the benefits).
Theories are all very well, we don’t have a shortage of “people who know”. Objective evidence would be helpful – especially as someone has gone to the bother of doing a study. Are these all kids with parents obsessively googling vaccination forums and debating it with their friends over an oat milk skinny latte or are they kids who’s mum and dad need an interpreter when ever they turn up at surgery? Its useful to know.