A new £2 million government scheme will see health visitors deliver crucial childhood vaccinations directly to vulnerable families in their own homes. The pilot, set to begin in mid-January 2026, aims to tackle England's persistently low immunisation rates by reaching children who have 'fallen through the cracks'.
Targeting families facing barriers
The initiative will focus on families who struggle to access routine GP appointments due to a range of difficult circumstances. These include not being registered with a doctor, facing travel costs, juggling childcare, encountering language barriers, or dealing with other tough situations. The government has stressed that the scheme is not intended to replace existing GP services but to complement them, and it is still urging families to use their local surgery where possible.
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." He added that the plan leverages the trusted relationships health visitors already have in communities to meet families where they are.
Addressing a national immunisation crisis
The urgent need for the pilot is underscored by stark official figures. Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for 2024/25 revealed that not a single childhood vaccine in England met the World Health Organisation's 95% herd immunity target.
The statistics show a worrying decline:
- Only 91.9% of five-year-olds had received one dose of the MMR vaccine, the lowest level since 2010/11.
- Just 83.7% had received both MMR doses, the lowest since 2009/10.
- Uptake of the four-in-one pre-school booster (against polio, whooping cough, tetanus and diphtheria) stood at a mere 81.4% among five-year-olds.
Health officials warned that almost one in five children started primary school in September 2025 without full protection against serious diseases.
How the pilot will work
The 12 pilot programmes will run for a year across several English regions, including London, the Midlands, North-East England and Yorkshire, the North West, and the South West. The NHS will identify eligible families using GP records, health visitor notes, and local databases.
Health visitors involved will receive extra training to handle conversations with parents who may be hesitant about vaccinations. The trial will be thoroughly evaluated, with a potential nationwide rollout from 2027 if it proves successful.
Mr Streeting framed the move as part of a broader mission to fix the NHS by tackling health inequalities head-on. "By meeting families where they are, we’re not just boosting vaccination rates – we’re building a health service that works for everyone," he stated.
