The number of children in the UK getting vaccinated against a range of preventable diseases dropped in 2021/22 compared with the previous year, according to new NHS statistics.
The figures reveal a decrease in all 13 vaccine coverage measures of between 0.2 and 1.1 per cent, with no vaccine meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) target of 95 per cent of coverage for all eligible children.
Coverage for the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine for children at 24 months was 89.2 per cent in 2021/22, a decrease from 90.3 per cent in 2020/21.
Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board said: “Vaccines are an absolutely essential part of our children’s health and wellbeing.
“They prevent serious life-threatening illnesses, and councils, along with their partners in schools and the NHS, work hard to ensure everyone has access to vaccination who needs it.
“These new statistics, revealing that we are still not reaching the WHO’s 95 per cent targets for vaccination coverage, are particularly concerning and also show considerable regional disparities.
“Local services are working hard to catch up on backlogs related to COVID-19 and ensure that people, including babies, children and pregnant women, still receive their routine vaccinations.
“Councils and their local directors of public health encourage parents to check if their child needs any vaccinations to make sure they are properly protected against serious preventable illness.”