Almost one in five children not protected from serious illnesses

Health & FitnessFamily & Parenting
28 Aug 2025 • 9:53 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Not a single childhood vaccine in England met the World Health Organisation's 95 per cent herd immunity target last year, raising concerns about preventable disease spread.
  • Almost one in five children is projected to start primary school next month without full protection against serious illnesses.
  • Uptake of the MMR vaccine is at its lowest levels since 2009/10-2010/11, with only 83.7 per cent of five-year-olds having received both doses.
  • Other key vaccines, including Hib/MenC and the four-in-one pre-school booster, also show concerningly low or declining uptake rates.
  • Significant regional disparities persist across England, with London consistently recording the lowest vaccination rates for various childhood jabs.

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