This World Immunisations Week (24 -30 April) health leaders in the Midlands hope that a look at the success of immunisations over the last 200 years will encourage those eligible to come forward for their routine and seasonal vaccinations.

Since the smallpox vaccine was first developed by Edward Jenner in 1796, medical science has introduced vaccines to protect against more than 20 life-threatening diseases and helping people to live longer, healthier lives.

Over the last 12 months initiatives introduced in the Midlands have included:

• Introduction of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine. More than 355,000 Midlands pregnant women and people aged 75-79 have had the vaccine since September 2024 with national UKHSA figures showing a 30% reduction in hospital admissions for this older age group
• Introduction of a digital system of contacting parents of school children for HPV vaccinations in Coventry since January this year is seeing an increase in consents among parents and an uptick in vaccinations. This system will be rolled out further
• An increased use of community vaccination clinics – in pharmacies, mobile units in car parks and at community centres. From June, the RSV vaccine will be available in some pharmacies too
• In Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent clinicians have worked on a campaign to target misinformation and vaccine misconceptions

Julia Grace, NHS England Deputy Director of Vaccinations and Screenings in the Midlands said, “Vaccinations have been saving lives since 1796 when Edward Jenner discovered using the cowpox virus could prevent someone getting smallpox.

“Since then we have seen vaccinations developed for illnesses that are thankfully now rare – like polio, diphtheria and whooping cough as well as others such as Human Papillomavirus (HPV) which can cause cervical and head and neck cancers.”

This World Immunisations Week the NHS is sharing resources on social media and with stakeholders which encourage people to come forward for specific vaccinations when invited to make sure they are protected.

The spring Covid-19 vaccination programme started earlier this month and so far more than 410,000 people aged over 75, or living in a care home or who have lower immunity to illness have received the vaccine in the Midlands. You can book a vaccination if you are eligible or find a walk in clinic close to you.

In the Midlands coverage rates for take up of vaccinations which had decreased during the pandemic are starting to show signs of recovery thanks to additional clinics organised by GP surgeries and school-aged immunisation teams, awareness campaigns in the media and community clinics.

HPV vaccination to girls aged 12 and 13 has increased to 71% of those eligible compared to 69.2% in 2022/23 and among boys, to 65.9% for 2023/24 compared to 61.0% for the previous year.

And the Men ACWY vaccination which protects against meningitis and sepsis has increased to 71.6% of eligible 13 and 14 year olds from 70.5% in 2022/23.

Added Julia Grace, “The World Health Organisation estimates that over the last 50 years, essential vaccines have saved at least 154 million lives. We want to make it as easy as possible for people to get the vaccines they need to help protect them and their children from serious illness, by opening clinics more local to people as well as improving awareness and understanding.”

You can read more about World Immunisation Week 2025 and NHS vaccinations