Immunisation is one of the most effective public health measures to protect populations and reduce the impact of serious disease outbreaks on communities.
The RCPCH report “Vaccination in the UK: Access, uptake and equity” is a timely reminder that improving vaccine uptake and coverage depends on ensuring vaccination is easy to access. Falling coverage rates in some vulnerable communities in the UK highlight the impact of current vaccine delivery models on health equity and the challenges faced by parents trying to access childhood immunisation.
FPH supports the RCPCH’s findings that under-vaccination linked to barriers in accessing services, as well as concerns about vaccine hesitancy and the role of social media in spreading misinformation, must not distract government and the NHS from the critical importance of actively supporting parents to easily access vaccines for their children. Achieving this will require a shift in NHS priorities towards making vaccine delivery as convenient and straightforward as possible for families.
