Childhood vaccination rates have seen a decline across Britain over the past 15 years. The percentage of five-year-olds in England who have received a four-in-one jab, which protects against viruses like polio and tetanus, is now 81%, a decrease from 89% in 2014. Similarly, the proportion of five-year-olds who have received both recommended MMR jabs has fallen to 84% from 88% a decade ago.
Professor Dan Hungerford, an epidemiologist at the University of Liverpool, noted that while the general decline might not appear severe, Britain is among the worst-performing European countries for early-life vaccinations. This decline has prompted politicians to question the reasons and potential solutions.
Public health experts who spoke to the BBC suggest that the main reason for the slip in immunisation rates is not primarily anti-vaccination sentiment on social media. Instead, they point to a more common factor: parents of young children having fewer face-to-face interactions with medical professionals compared to 10 or 15 years ago.
Beccy Baird, a senior fellow at the King's Fund think tank, stated that convenience plays a significant role, with vaccination rates being higher when parents regularly interact with medics who can provide reminders and location information. England has experienced a 45% decline in health visitors over the last decade, and the number of fully trained GPs has struggled to meet rising patient demand, according to BBC analysis and British Medical Association data.
In Keighley, west Yorkshire, a vaccination clinic operating from a vacant retail unit in the Airedale shopping centre is attempting to address this issue. The clinic aims to make vaccination more accessible by being centrally located and offering services like baby weighing, where staff can then suggest immunisations to parents.