Reduction rates in the vaccination of children

Data from NHS England for 2023/24 has shown that not a single vaccine programme had met the target needed to ensure that diseases cannot spread amongst children. To ensure herd immunity, 95% of children should receive their vaccine doses in order to stop illnesses transmitting across the population, however this is currently not the case. Additionally, London has the lowest proportion of young children vaccinated in 2023/24, as only 73% of children have both doses of the MMR vaccine by their fifth birthday.

The decline in vaccination rates can be attributed to numerous factors. For example, misinformation about vaccines, especially on social media, or some families may be facing difficulties in scheduling and attending appointments. This means they simply cannot access vaccines. To add, areas with higher levels of deprivation may have lower vaccination rates due to limited access to healthcare and lower health literacy. Therefore, whilst reaching herd immunity is important, it may be that parents are not intentionally preventing their children from having vaccines but are instead facing issues accessing them, resulting in a decline in vaccination rates.

To give an example in primary care, there are fewer GPs per patient in more deprived areas. Consultations are shorter and the continuity of GP care is worse. This therefore contributes to lower use of preventative services in more deprived areas, such as lower uptake of cancer screening services and lower child vaccination rates. Consequently, patients are left feeling dissatisfied as they feel that they did not have enough time at their last GP appointment.

Whilst the NHS and GP practices attempt to tackle these declining rates through sending reminders and providing catch-up doses, it cannot be denied that an underlying problem remains. Vaccines are extremely important to protect children from serious illness especially as winter approaches. However, vaccination rates may continue to remain the same if problems to access these services are not met.

Written by Aaliyah

Moderated by Adelene

References

England, N. (2024). NHS England» Parents urged to get children MMR jab as one in six not fully vaccinated. [online] England.nhs.uk. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/2024/09/parents-urged-to-get-children-mmr-jab-as-one-in-six-not-fully-vaccinated/.

Iacobucci, G. (2022). UK childhood vaccination rates fell last year in almost all programmes, figures show. BMJ, 378, p.o2353. doi:https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.o2353.

Lynch, N. (2024). Children receiving ‘life-saving’ vaccines at lowest level for more than a decade. [online] Sky News. Available at: https://news.sky.com/story/children-receiving-life-saving-vaccines-at-lowest-level-for-more-than-a-decade-13216708.

Mallorie, S. (2024). The Relationship Between Poverty And NHS Services. [online] The King’s Fund. Available at: https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/long-reads/relationship-poverty-nhs-services.