Childhood Immunisations

Childhood infections like measles and whooping cough continue to spread in our communities, with outbreaks linked to nurseries and schools across the country particularly affecting young children.

Such infections can have a huge impact on your child's life. They can miss out on school due to time spent unwell, be hospitalised, and even experience life-long complications and disability.

If your child isn't vaccinated, they're not protected.

It is important for parents to take up the offer of the free NHS childhood immunisation programme as soon as they are offered ensure your child has the best protection.

However, if you or your child have missed a vaccine, it is never too late to check if you can catch up.

We are calling on all parents to check their child's red book to see if the children have missed any vaccines or check with their GP if they are unsure. 

Please visit NHS vaccinations and when to have them - NHS for the full immunisation timetable and information on how to book. 

Statistics

• The childhood vaccination programme prevents around 5,000 deaths
• NHS England data shows if 95% of children receive the MMR vaccine, this would stop measles spreading completely. Measles, mumps and rubella can quickly spread again if fewer than 90% of people are vaccinated.
• NHS England also notes that, since vaccines were introduced in the UK, diseases like smallpox, polio and tetanus that used to kill or disable millions of people are either now gone or very arely seen.
• Evidence shows that, while measles can be mild for some children, one in five will require a hospital visit. Infection can lead to complications, such as meningitis and sepsis, in one in fifteen children.
• Maternal vaccine effectiveness against infant death from whooping cough is very high, at around 92%. The latest UKHSA data shows that uptake of the maternal whooping cough vaccine has increased to in recent months, with over 72% of women who gave birth in March 2025 having received the vaccine. 
• While most young children recover from Meningitis B, around 1 in 20 die from the infection. Many of those who survive have a permenant disability, such as brain damage, epilepsy, hearing loss, or the loss of limbs (amputation).
•