Health Secretary may take ‘bold action’ to reverse falling vaccination take-up in kids

HEALTH Secretary Matt Hancock has refused to rule out taking action to protect children after figures showed a fall in vaccination rates.

Mr Hancock, who said in April he could not rule out the possibility that unvaccinated children would be sent home from school in future, warned “devastating diseases can and will resurface”.

He suggested “bold action” could be taken if vaccination rates fail to improve.

The Department of Health and Social Care said a range of options had been suggested, including mandatory vaccination.

Mr Hancock’s comments came after figures showed a decline in

Concerned: Matt Hancock

the proportion of children receiving 13 NHS childhood jabs, including the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and those for meningitis.

Mr Hancock said: “Falling childhood vaccination rates are unacceptable. Everyone has a role to play in halting this. The loss of our measles-free status is a reminder that devastating diseases can and will resurface.”

NHS data showed a drop in vaccination rates across England in 2018-19 compared to the previous 12 months.

The decreases ranged from 0.2 to one percentage point, depending on the vaccine.

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs, said: “Even a small drop in take-up is disheartening and very concerning.

“We are aware of the destructive anti-vaccination messages that are circulating online. These are perpetuating toxic myths that are not backed by any evidence (and) have been debunked.”