This World Immunisation Week health leaders in the Midlands are urging parents and carers to check their children are up to date with their essential childhood vaccinations, and book any that have been missed. Essential, routine vaccinations like measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), human papillomavirus (HPV) and the whooping cough vaccine can save a child’s life.

Since January, the NHS with UKHSA and local authorities have been urging over a million parents and carers of six- to 11-year-olds to book their children in for missed MMR vaccinations to protect children and young people from becoming seriously unwell. Between Jan – March 2024, over 360,000 MMR vaccinations were delivered, up almost a quarter from 293,847 in 2023, but more still needs to be done. More than 20 million cases of measles have been prevented since the start of measles vaccination in the UK, and more than 4,500 lives saved as a result of the vaccine which has been used since 1980s. (source UKHSA)

Throughout February and March over a million children and young adults aged 11 to 25 years living in London, the West Midlands and Greater Manchester were also encouraged to book an appointment, with these areas most at risk due to the number of people not up to date on their MMR vaccinations. The latest figures from UKHSA show there have been over 930 confirmed cases of measles in England since 1 October 2023.

The HPV vaccine is 97% effective in protecting against infection from some of the highest risk types of HPV (a group of viruses which can affect boys and girls) helping prevent HPV related cancers from developing. The vaccine is very effective and NHS England believes it will play its part in eliminating cervical cancer by 2040.

Over 42,800 girls and 45,800 boys in the Midlands in year eight have had one dose of the HPV vaccine in the last 12 months. Girls and boys aged 12 to 13 years (in year 8) are routinely offered the HPV vaccine through school aged immunisation services. These are mainly given either in schools or community clinic.

Whooping cough cases are rising and babies who are too young to start their vaccinations are at greatest risk (553 new cases were confirmed in England during January 2024, compared with 858 cases for the whole of 2023). If you are pregnant, you can help protect your baby by getting vaccinated – ideally from 16 weeks up to 32 weeks pregnant. The immunity you get from the vaccine passes to your baby through the placenta and protects them until they are old enough to be vaccinated at 8 weeks old.

Young babies with whooping cough are often very unwell and many are likely to need hospital treatment as it can lead to serious complications.

If you are more than 16 weeks pregnant and have not been offered the vaccine, you can talk to your midwife or GP and make an appointment to get vaccinated.

Julia Grace, NHS Deputy Director of Vaccinations and Screening in the Midlands said “It is really important to protect your children as soon as possible and take them for their vaccinations when invited. If you or your family have fallen behind on any, then we encourage you to come forward as soon as possible, please don’t delay it.

Measles is a very serious illness and everyone who is still unprotected is at risk. We have pop-up vaccination clinics running in some of the most at-risk areas making it easier and more convenient to receive the vaccine in addition to booking through your GP. Anyone who has missed out on their HPV vaccination can still catch up until their 25th birthday (for girls born after 1 September 1991 and boys born after 1 September 2006), and the whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy is extremely safe and has been used in pregnancy for over 10 years. If for any reason you have missed yours, you can still have it up until the end of pregnancy.

If you or your child have fallen behind on any vaccinations, you should contact your GP practice to book an appointment. Remember it is never too late to catch up on missed vaccinations.”

NHS vaccination schedule