Alert as childhood vaccination rates fall – putting millions at risk of killer infections

Vaccination rates are falling across England — despite campaigns amid outbreaks of measles and whooping cough, which as claimed the lives of nine babies. 

Overall, coverage decreased with none of the 14 childhood vaccines meeting the 95 per cent target, newly published NHS data shows.

However there were vast difference between regions. The North East fared best with measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine rates hitting almost 90 per cent.

London had the lowest uptake, at 73 per cent — and previous research suggestion in some boroughs rates are as low as 60 per cent, putting thousands of children at risk.

South-west England had the highest estimated take-up for the primary course of the 6-in-1 vaccine — which includes whooping cough — among five-year-olds, at 95 per cent, while London again saw the lowest take-up, at almost 87 per cent. 

Take-up of the Hib/MenC vaccine among five-year-olds ranged from almost 93 per cent in south-west England to 82.5 per cent in London.