A pilot scheme sending health visitors door-to-door to vaccinate children at home is launching in England amid alarm that one in five children start primary school without protection against deadly diseases. The £2m initiative, starting in January across 12 areas in five regions, aims to boost plummeting vaccination rates.
UK Health Security Agency data shows that in 2024-25, no childhood vaccine in England met the World Health Organization's 95% target for herd immunity. Only 91.9% of five-year-olds received one dose of the MMR vaccine, the lowest since 2010-11, and just 83.7% had both doses. Uptake of the four-in-one preschool booster fell to 81.4%, the worst since records began in 2009-10.
Health visitors, nurses or midwives specialising in under-fives, will target families not registered with a GP or facing barriers like travel costs, childcare, or language issues. They will be trained to administer vaccines safely and address parental concerns. Children will be identified via GP records, health visitor notes, and local databases.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: 'Every parent deserves the chance to protect their child from preventable diseases, but some families have a lot going on and that can mean they miss out. By meeting families where they are, we're not just boosting vaccination rates – we're building a health service that works for everyone.'
The scheme covers London, the Midlands, the north-east and Yorkshire, the north-west, and the south-west. If successful, it will roll out nationwide in 2027. Separately, a chickenpox vaccine will be offered on the NHS from Friday.
