Vaccine Uptake in Children Falls, Raising Concerns of a Back-to-School Outbreak of Deadly Diseases

The proportion of children in the UK receiving vaccines against polio and measles continues to decline, with worrying implications for public health. In the West Midlands, a quarter of young children have not received the necessary jabs, while in Cumbria, the best-performing area, almost 95% of children are protected. The data, which covers 2023/24, shows that not a single vaccine met the target needed to prevent the spread of diseases among youngsters. This has raised concerns among health experts, who are urging parents to check their children's vaccinations and ensure they are up to date.

Key Takeaways:

• In the West Midlands, around a quarter (24%) of young children have not received the necessary vaccinations against polio and measles.
• The area with the highest vaccine uptake is Cumbria, where almost 95% of children are protected.
• The data shows that most areas of the West Midlands, Staffordshire, and Shropshire have seen a fall in vaccinations.
• Not a single vaccine met the target needed to prevent the spread of diseases among youngsters, according to NHS England figures.
• The World Health Organisation recommends that 95% of children should receive their set of vaccine doses for each illness to achieve herd immunity.
• The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is urging parents to check their children's vaccinations amid fears of a back-to-school surge of diseases like measles and whooping cough.
• Childhood vaccines prevent over 5,000 deaths and 100,000 hospital admissions each year in England, according to the NHS.
• Dr Vanessa Saliba, UKHSA consultant epidemiologist, is encouraging parents to take up the offer of vaccinations for their children, citing the importance of preventing needlessly suffering and potentially life-saving benefits.
• Dr Saliba notes that while attendance at vaccination campaigns is improving, a significant number of children remain unprotected against preventable diseases.

Statistics:

• 24% of young children in the West Midlands have not received the necessary vaccinations against polio and measles.
• 95% of children in Cumbria are protected against polio and measles.
• 91.9% of five-year-olds had received one dose of the MMR (measles, mumps & rubella) vaccine in 2023/24, the lowest level since 2010/11.
• Just 83.9% of five-year-olds had received both doses of the MMR vaccine in 2023/24, the lowest since 2009/10.

Sources:

• NHS England figures covering 2023/24
• World Health Organisation (WHO)
• UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
• Dr Vanessa Saliba, UKHSA consultant epidemiologist