Government ignores call to use retired medical staff or students to boost declining vaccination rates

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The Committee’s report into vaccination called for urgent action to tackle declining rates among children with evidence that England did not meet the 95% target for any routine childhood immunisations in 2021/22. MPs had urged a more flexible delivery model to deliver routine vaccinations to overcome practical challenges over times or locations, alongside an expanded workforce.

The Government did not respond to specific recommendations on an integrated vaccination and immunisation strategy, which was announced in June 2022 but is still awaited. MPs say the strategy will be vital to ensure that England can meet the 95% target for all childhood vaccinations and to address variations in uptake across routine immunisation programmes. In its response published today, the Government says the strategy “will be published later in 2023”.

Chair's comment

Steve Brine MP, Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee, said:

“We are extremely disappointed that the government has failed to respond directly to our calls for urgent action to tackle declining rates in childhood immunisations. Without a more flexible approach to how they are delivered the great success story of vaccination will flounder, as will the UK’s position as a global leader. In July, we saw a warning from the UK Health Security Agency that the capital risked a measles outbreak of tens of thousands of cases if MMR rates remained low.

“Unfortunately, we still await an integrated vaccination and immunisation strategy from the government – promised more than a year ago. Its publication remains vital if targets for routine vaccinations among children are to be met.”

Further information

• Inquiry: Prevention in health and social care
• Health and Social Care Committee

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