The most significant increase in vaccinations was for those aged five to 25 years old, with four times as many vaccinations – 75,499 – in the first three months of 2024 than 18,433 in the same period last year.
Since January, the NHS, UKHSA and local authorities have been urging millions of parents and carers to book their children in for missed measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccinations to protect children and young people from becoming seriously unwell.
Between 1 Jan and 24 March 2024, there were a total of 360,964 MMR vaccinations delivered, up almost a quarter (23%) from 293,847 in 2023. This included 187,737 first doses and 171,635 second doses.
‘It is excellent news that since the NHS launched our MMR catch-up campaign, thousands more people than last year have come forward to get vaccinated, with a four-fold increase in the number of five- to 25-year-olds getting that all-important protection,’ said Steve Russell, NHS national director for vaccinations and screening.
‘Measles is a very serious illness and so it is vital that everyone who is still unprotected comes forward to get their two doses as soon as possible, by contacting their GP surgery or visiting one of the pop-up vaccination clinics running in some of the most at-risk areas.’
More than a million parents and carers of six- to 11-year-olds were sent emails, letters and texts inviting them to book an appointment with their child’s GP practice for their missed MMR vaccine.
Throughout February and March over a million children and young adults aged 11 to 25 years living in London, the West Midlands and Greater Manchester were also encouraged to book an appointment, with these areas most at risk due to the number of people not up to date on their MMR vaccinations.
The NHS is also working with UKHSA on a continued campaign encouraging parents and carers of pre-school children to make sure their children are up to date with all their routine vaccinations, including the MMR vaccine.
The latest figures from UKHSA show there have been 934 confirmed cases of measles in England since 1 October 2023.
‘The big increase in people, especially children, getting their MMR vaccine following our recent marketing campaign on missed immunisations is fantastic to see,’ said Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at the UK Health Security Agency.
‘We would like to thank the public and parents who have come forward to check their and their children’s vaccination status and subsequently booked appointments where required. This goes a long way towards helping manage the ongoing measles outbreak and protecting people across the country. However, we are still seeing rising measles cases in London and other parts of the country, particularly in children under 10 years old. Don’t wait for measles to be in your area before you check that you and your children are up to date for MMR.’