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Vaccination Rates: England
03 September 2026
Lead MP
Danny Beales
Responding Minister
Diana R. Johnson
Tags
Foreign AffairsNHS
Word Count: 12155
Other Contributors: 14
At a Glance
Danny Beales raised concerns about vaccination rates: england in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Beales asks the Minister to outline whether the Government accepts that urgent action is needed to address the unacceptable situation and whether a clear timeline for meeting WHO targets can be agreed upon by the NHS. He also inquires about the necessity of a clear action plan to restore vaccination rates to 95% for all children and to regain measles elimination status.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Danny Beales is concerned about the decline in vaccination rates in England, stating that the percentage of eligible people getting major vaccines has fallen below the 95% coverage recommended by the World Health Organisation. He cites specific examples such as only 83.7% of five-year-olds in England having both doses of the MMR vaccine and the loss of measles elimination status nationally. He also highlights the disparities in vaccination rates among children living in poverty and from ethnic minority communities, and the apparent complacency of NHS officials when questioned about these issues. Beales points out that the 2023 vaccination strategy has failed to halt the decline in vaccination rates.
Alex Mayer
Lab
Wythenshawe and Sale East
Alex Mayer visited Kingsbury Court surgery to discuss their efforts to boost childhood vaccination rates. He noted that the surgery had increased its vaccination rate by 9% over the last year through active outreach and following up on missed appointments. Mayer asked the Minister for specific measures to help people keep up with vaccinations during house moves due to new build housing.
Alison Bennett
Lab
Copeland
Alison Bennett highlighted the decline in vaccination rates in England, noting that only 81% of five-year-olds have received their 4-in-1 jab and 84% have had both MMR jabs, both below the 95% threshold recommended by the World Health Organisation. She also pointed out disparities in vaccination coverage across different regions and demographic groups, with London seeing MMR coverage of just 72% compared to 83% in the south-west. Bennett raised concerns about the spread of medical disinformation online, noting its impact on vaccine uptake and the need for action to combat it.
Ben Coleman
Con
Kingston and Surbiton
Childhood vaccination rates have fallen, leading to a resurgence of diseases like measles. Ben Coleman pushed for MMR vaccinations through community pharmacies in North West London but was met with resistance. Since then, the situation has worsened, with 970 laboratory-confirmed measles cases in England, of which 650 were children aged 14 or under and over half were in London. He urged the Government to commission a proper evaluation of using pharmacies for routine MMR vaccination.
Danny Chambers
Con
West Worcestershire
Vaccines are the most effective way to boost immunity and eradicate diseases. Polio is close to eradication and vaccines played a critical role in saving lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is a risk that vaccines will become victims of their own success, leading to falling childhood vaccination rates due to misinformation spread by politicians and online platforms. Will the Minister give way?
My hon. Friend makes an excellent point. Our mini-inquiry into vaccination rates found that when rates decline or stall, the problem is often lack of trust and inability to access either trusted health professionals or the appointments themselves. Does he agree that improving the availability of vaccinations and advice from trusted health professionals is key to reversing this worrying trend?
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Jim Shannon highlighted the declining vaccination uptake across the United Kingdom, noting that none of the routine childhood vaccinations had reached the WHO's recommended 95% coverage target in 2021. He expressed concern about practical barriers preventing access to vaccines, particularly in deprived and rural areas, and the risk of localised outbreaks of measles and whooping cough.
Welling
Josh Fenton-Glynn emphasized the importance of vaccines in preventing diseases and protecting public health. He noted the decline in MMR vaccine uptake in England, which is below the 95% target, leading to an increase in measles cases, particularly among unvaccinated children. Fenton-Glynn stressed the need for the Government to champion the benefits of vaccines and take clear action to address the spread of misinformation and harmful content online.
Josh Newbury
Con
Cannock Chase
Parental hesitancy is common, but primary care networks are improving vaccination rates through plain leaflets, sticker systems, and early immunisation by health visitors. Neighbourhood health centres could improve accessibility. Funding for practices through the Quality and Outcomes Framework is challenging in deprived areas, and practices may not receive funding if they do not meet the 96% target despite significant efforts.
Lizzi Collinge
Lab
Telford
Childhood vaccination rates have fallen below the World Health Organisation's 95% target. Online misinformation is a factor, but more common are practical barriers such as lack of appointments, long journeys, and time off work. Rebuilding health visiting and GP links can help, as well as addressing poverty and deprivation. Dolly Parton's efforts to encourage vaccine uptake are highlighted.
Olly Glover
Lab
Oxford West and Abingdon
Olly Glover highlighted the critical importance of vaccination rates, noting that even small drops below the 95% World Health Organisation target can lead to outbreaks. He cited vaccination rates in Oxfordshire as below the target for all five main early years categories, urging for a proactive NHS and Government plan to tackle misinformation and disinformation. He proposed tougher regulation of social media companies and the introduction of a verification requirement for medical professionals' social media accounts.
Peter Prinsley, a doctor, emphasized the importance of vaccination, citing the success of HPV and MMR vaccinations in reducing severe health issues and saving lives during the pandemic. He also warned about a shortage of clinical academics leading medical education and research.
Rachael Maskell
Lab
York Central
Rachael Maskell praised vaccine programmes as the most effective public health interventions and encouraged high take-up for the winter flu vaccination. She noted that York's second MMR vaccine uptake is higher than Yorkshire and England's averages but below the 95% WHO target. She called for better communication to communities and the expansion of vaccine delivery mechanisms to reach all groups effectively.
Sarah Russell
Con
Congleton
Sarah Russell thanked Congleton Rotary for raising funds for polio vaccination and highlighted the unacceptable loss of measles-free status in the UK. She noted that only 90% of children in Cheshire East had received both doses of the MMR vaccine by their fifth birthday, and expressed concern about the 77.4% vaccination rate for girls and 72% for boys in the HPV vaccine. Russell suggested that lifetime consent for vaccination could simplify the process and improve vaccination rates.
Sojan Joseph
Lab
Dover
Sojan Joseph highlighted the decline in vaccine rates and the meningitis B outbreak in Kent, which included 21 confirmed cases and two deaths. He called for updates on the Government's considerations of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's recommendations for a routine meningitis B programme for adolescents. Joseph also pointed to the rising rates of TB in the UK and the need for continued investment in TB vaccine research and development.
Government Response
Diana R. Johnson
Government Response
It is a pleasure to serve under Mrs Barker today. Diana R. Johnson acknowledges the importance of the debate and the expertise of the Members present. She highlights the effectiveness of vaccination in public health and the challenge of falling vaccination rates, despite the programme achieving over 90% coverage for babies' first doses against diseases such as polio and measles. Johnson addresses the government's response on four fronts: clearer NHS organisation, more flexible services, better public information, and joined-up digital records. She reassures Members that the government has not dropped vaccination targets and that funding for vaccination services will increase in real terms for the next three years. Johnson also mentions the Mavis scheme, a new digital system that allows parents to give consent online, covering over 13,800 schools by September 2026. She emphasizes the importance of public campaigns and confident healthcare professionals providing advice, and the need to monitor and respond to misinformation. Johnson concludes by stating the government's commitment to rebuilding coverage through clear accountability, easier access, trusted information, and better record keeping.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.