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4h ago

England Falls Short of Childhood Vaccine Targets as New Data Shows One in Five Start School Unprotected

Health officials urge catch-up vaccinations to protect children before the new school term.

Young infants are at the highest risk of severe complications from whooping cough (Photo: Getty)
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Overview

  • New UKHSA figures for 2024/25 show that none of the main childhood vaccines in England met the WHO’s 95% uptake threshold.
  • MMR coverage remains low with 91.9% of five-year-olds having one dose and 83.7% completing two doses, while first-dose uptake at 24 months is 88.9%.
  • Uptake of the four-in-one pre-school booster is 81.4%, the lowest since records began, leaving many pupils without full protection against polio, whooping cough, tetanus and diphtheria.
  • Regional disparities persist, with two-dose MMR at 90.2% in the North East versus 69.6% in London, and UKHSA notes 14 London authorities likely undercounted coverage due to GP registration gaps.
  • Officials highlight measles risk after 2,911 confirmed cases in 2024 and a recent child death, as experts warn about online misinformation and the NHS expands catch-up and outreach clinics.