Rise in baby vaccination rates for MMR in Sheffield

Despite an increase in MMR vaccination rates across England, the British Society for Immunology warned the national level was still below target and could mean diseases such as measles spreading to vulnerable, unvaccinated people.

Figures from NHS Digital show 92.8 per cent of babies in Sheffield received the first dose of the MMR vaccination by their second birthday in 2019-20 .

This was an increase on the 92.3 per cent of two-year-olds vaccinated the year before – but still means 464 babies were not inoculated this year.

Across England, the proportion of children having their first dose of the jab increased from 90.3 per cent in 2018-19 to 90.6 per cent in 2019-20 – still well below the 95 per cent needed for herd immunity.

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

Vaccination rates fell and measles rates began to rise following a study in 1998 by Dr Andrew Wakefield claiming the jabs were unsafe.

The findings were later discredited and the General Medical Council struck him off, ruling he had been ‘dishonest, irresponsible and showed callous disregard for the distress and pain’ of children.

The NHS figures show an increase in coverage in six of the nine English regions in 2019-20, with Yorkshire and The Humber having the fourth highest level of coverage, at 92.6 per cent.

The North East, at 95.1 per cent, was the only region to reach the target, while the uptake rate in London was 83.6 per cent, the lowest in England.

Dr Doug Brown, BSI chief executive, welcomed the ‘small increase in uptake for most routine vaccinations’, but said ‘none of them have reached the necessary uptake level of 95 per cent at the correct timepoint’.

He added: “The slight rise in uptake of routine childhood vaccinations in England is a step in the right direction but we must still take urgent action to overcome the ongoing trend of missing the 95% target set out by the World Health Organisation.

“Low levels of vaccination coverage matter as it means diseases such as measles have the potential to spread within our communities, infecting unvaccinated people, including vulnerable individuals unable to have vaccinations such as young babies or people with cancer.”

In Sheffield, 87.3% of children had received both doses of the MMR vaccine before the age of five in 2019-20 – compared to 86.8% across England.

Dr Nikki Kanani, GP and NHS national director of primary care, said: “Vaccines provide vital protection against life-threatening diseases and so it is great that coverage of MMR is increasing, but we want even more parents to come forward and get their children vaccinated.

“NHS staff are working hard to ensure that MMR and other vital vaccination appointments are still going ahead safely throughout the pandemic, so as a mum and a GP I want to remind other parents that getting your kids their vaccination is not only safe, but potentially life-saving.”

Separate national figures from Public Health England show the number of vaccinations for the first MMR vaccine dipped in the weeks after the coronavirus lockdown was introduced.

The PHE report suggested stay-at-home messaging and difficulty in getting a GP appointment may have contributed to a "large decline" in vaccine uptake, though rates have since risen again

Greg Fell, Sheffield director of public health, said: “It is great to see a rise in vaccination rates in Sheffield, but there is still more work to be done to make sure all our children receive the vaccine.

“Vaccines help protect both babies and children and are the most effective way to prevent serious infectious diseases.

“If you are unsure if you are up to date with your child’s vaccinations make sure you contact your GP or health visitor.”