Increased take-up of routine childhood vaccinations by families in Peterborough but still not good enough

Coverage increased in most routine vaccinations in England in 2019-20, with MMR coverage at 24 months up for the first time in six years, according to NHS Digital in figures released today.

The report shows vaccinations measured at the ages of 12 months, 24 months and five years.

Coverage for the first dose of the MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)4 vaccine among eligible children aged 24 months has increased nationally from 90.3 per cent in 2018-19 to 90.6 per cent in 2019-20. The World Health Organization (WHO) target is 95 per cent.

This is the first time in six years that MMR coverage in England has increased, following a peak of 92.7 per cent in 2013-14.

According to regional data, in 2015-2016, Peterborough was hitting the 95 per cent target in three out of eleven childhood vaccinations and being fractionally short in two more. This was above or on a par with the national average. In comparison, in 2019-2020, Peterborough was falling short of all national and regional averages, with the DTaP-IPV 4-in-1 booster jab for five year olds only achieving 82.1 per cent coverage. This vaccine helps protect your child against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio. The whole of the East of England only managed to hit the 95 per cent target for one vaccine but had shown general improvement, whereas Peterborough had only improved in five out of 11 jabs.

The North East had the highest level of MMR coverage at 95.1% and was the only region to exceed the national target of 95%. London had the lowest level of coverage in 2019-20 at 83.6% (up from 83.0% in 2018-19).

Across England, 94.5% of children aged five years had received the first dose of the MMR vaccine in 2019-20 – the same percentage as the previous year, and still below the 95% target. In 2019-20, eight out of nine regions achieved 95% coverage.

Other vaccines recorded include the 5-in-1 and 6-in-1 vaccines, which protects against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, disease caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b and hepatitis B. The report also includes coverage data for the pneumococcal disease (PCV), rotavirus, meningococcal group B (MenB), Hib booster and meningococcal group C vaccine (Hib/MenC) and children’s flu vaccines.