The latest NHS immunisation statistics for 1 April 2014- 31 March 2015, published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), show that the number of children in England receiving the first dose of the MMR vaccine fell from 92.7 per cent in 2013-14 to 92.3 in 2014-15.
While there has only been a slight fall in the number taking up the vaccine, it is the first year since 2007-08 that there hasn’t been a rise.
The MMR is offered to children between 12-13 months. They usually receive the second dose before they start school, normally when they are between three and five years of age.
The latest statistics also reveal how take-up of the first dose of the vaccine varied by region, with the lowest levels mainly concentrated in London. Take-up was highest in the North West and North East.
Just over a quarter of local authorities, 38 out of 149, were meeting the World Health Organisation target (WHO) of at least 95 per cent take-up.
Dr David Elliman, immunisation expert for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), said, ‘It is disappointing that uptake of NHS immunisations have not continued to rise, however the falls are very small. This could be read as children not receiving the vaccination or alternatively, it could be a lack of data collection linked to considerable pressures on staff working in the NHS.
‘In view of the considerable upheaval that the NHS is going through, it’s a credit to staff that we haven’t seen bigger falls in uptake.
‘Immunisation is vitally important if we are to protect child health both here in the UK and internationally in the long-term. I would therefore urge all parents to contact their GP if they are unsure whether their child is up to date with their vaccinations.’
