Make sure your little ones are up to date with childhood immunisations

Childhood infections like measles and whooping cough are rising. Make sure your child is protected against becoming seriously unwell.

The UK’s childhood vaccination programme prevents around 5,000 deaths, and more than 100,000 hospital admissions, each year in England. Vaccinations have ensured the UK has been declared free of diseases such as polio, with others, like diphtheria, almost fully controlled. However, in recent years we have seen a trend of lower vaccine uptake, and this has been exacerbated by the pandemic. 

It's important that vaccines are given on time for the best protection, but if your child missed a vaccine, contact your GP surgery to catch up. To have full protection, children sometimes need to have booster vaccines. Check their red book or speak to your GP surgery to see if they are missing any. You can also visit the NHS website to find out more and see if you should book an appointment for your child. 

Preventable childhood infections can have a huge impact on a child’s life, they can miss out on education due to time spent unwell, be hospitalised, and have life-long complications such as deafness, blindness, encephalitis (infection of the brain) and paralysis. Sometimes these infections can cause death. We have already begun to see increased cases of measles and whooping cough, with outbreaks around the country. There is an urgent need to ensure children are vaccinated and protected against these serious illnesses.

All the childhood vaccinations are free. Visit the NHS website for the full timetable and how to get them. All childhood vaccinations offered by the NHS have been used in millions of children worldwide and have an excellent safety record. All medicines can cause side effects, but all health authorities around the world agree that immunisation is the safest way to protect our children’s health.