Number of children getting the MMR jab declines for the fourth year in a row

The number of children being given the MMR vaccine has fallen for the fourth year in a row, with immunity now at its lowest since 2011.

The jab protects against measles, mumps and rubella, and children are expected to have their first dose before their second birthday.

But only 91.2 per cent of children across England are meeting this target, meaning thousands have no protection against the three killer infections.

The number is down from 92.7 per cent in 2014 – the highest level of the past decade years – and from 91.6 per cent in 2017, NHS Digital data has revealed.

England is failing to hit the 95 per cent immunisation rate the World Health Organization recommends to protect the country from contagious infections.

And the proportion of children being given the MMR jab varies from just 75 per cent in Hackney in east London, to 96.9 per cent in County Durham.

London has the worst uptake of the MMR jab, with only 85.1 per cent of children in the capital being immunised, while the North East has the highest levels.

Experts say the falling rates are ‘worrying’ and warn people could die if vaccination levels do not improve as they are proven to save lives.

Figures released today show coverage rates for eight other NHS-offered vaccines have also dropped among children younger than two. 

Rates of immunisation against diptheria, tetanus, polio, pneumococcal disease, haemophilus infulenzae type B (hib) and meningococcal C are all falling.

But most concerning is the drop in MMR jabs as cases of measles are on the rise in England.

This year there have been 876 confirmed cases of measles – more than triple the number of cases in the entire of 2017.

This is despite the disease being declared eliminated in the UK by the World Health Organization in 2017, meaning it had not spread widely for over more than three years.

MMR vaccinations are lowest in London, where they are just 85.1 per cent, and highest in the North East, with 94.5 per cent.

The ten areas with the fewest children being immunised are all boroughs of the capital city – dropping as low as 75 per cent in Hackney.

Whereas the highest numbers of vaccinated children are in County Durham, North and South Tyneside, Cumbria, Trafford, Barnsley and Leicestershire, where more than 96 per cent received the MMR jab before their second birthday in 2018.

Professor Jonathan Ball, professor of molecular virology at the University of Nottingham, said: ‘The decline in vaccine uptake is worrying – particularly as many of these infections can cause serious disease and even death.

‘Measles is one of the most contagious viruses out there, and to prevent outbreaks you need to have around 95 per cent of the population vaccinated to create what’s known as herd immunity.

‘It is really important to try to understand why people are not getting their children vaccinated so that measures can be put in place to overcome these barriers.

‘If uptake continues to decline then we will see increasing numbers of outbreaks and with them, inevitably serious illness and possible death.’

In the 1990s, MMR vaccine uptake was affected by a theory that it caused autism or bowel disease, after a scientist called Andrew Wakefield published a study claiming to show a link.

But Wakefield’s controversial study was found to be made-up, his research was discredited and he was struck off the medical register.

Other research has found no link between MMR jabs and autism or bowel disease, but the myth continues to spread online.

Helen Donovan, professional lead for public health at the Royal College of Nursing said: ‘For the first time last year, Britain was declared free of endemic measles, but these figures show we are turning the clock back and leaving thousands of children unprotected.

‘Coverage declined in nine out of 12 of the routine vaccination measures compared to last year.

‘This means immunity against deadly or life-changing diseases such as tetanus, diphtheria and polio is dropping.

‘These were diseases of the past – they should not be part of our future.’

The new data shows the percentage of two-year-olds who received the Hib and MenC vaccine, which protects against meningitis and haemophilus influenzae type b, also declined between to 91.2 per cent in the past year.

And the percentage of one-year-olds who had received the five-in-one vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio and Hib declined for the fifth year in a row, reaching its lowest level since 2009.

But the number who had received the vaccine by the age of two was above the target of 95 per cent.

Children are now offered the six-in-one vaccine which also protects against hepatitis B.

Rotavirus was the only one of 12 vaccines offered on the NHS which had an increase in coverage, from 89.6 per cent in 2017 to 90.1 per cent in 2018.

Dr Doug Brown, chief executive of the British Society for Immunology said: ‘Vaccination saves lives. It is one of the safest and most cost-effective methods we have to prevent the spread of disease.

‘Today’s publication of the annual vaccination statistics for England paints a concerning picture with decreases observed in the uptake of nine of the twelve routine vaccinations.

‘Lower levels of vaccination mean that these harmful diseases can spread within our communities, infecting people who have not been vaccinated, including young babies, people with compromised immune systems or people with cancer.

‘We are currently witnessing the impact of this lower vaccination rate in the ongoing measles outbreak in England.

‘We need to redouble efforts to ensure that vaccination rates improve and that our communities benefit from continued protection against this serious disease.’

Dr Michael Edelstein of Public Health England added: ”We are seeing small reductions in uptake for most of the childhood vaccines which is why we continue to encourage all parents to get the best protection for their children by ensuring they are fully immunised.

‘We are working closely with the NHS, and with staff in general practice where most vaccinations are delivered, to improve uptake.’