Crucial that children get jabs, parents told

PARENTS are being urged to vaccinate their children to avoid a wave of preventable illnesses burdening the NHS.

The Local Government Association issued the warning after research highlighted a drastic dip in the take-up of HPV, meningitis, and MMR vaccinations since the start of the pandemic.

The LGA, which represents councils in England and Wales, said last night that a “national effort” to vaccinate children and young people would help to relieve long-term pressures on the health service. NHS England’s national director of primary care said it was “crucial” for children to get their jabs.

The results of a poll in June showed that just 27 per cent of parents of young children said they would feel comfortable taking their child to a medical centre for vaccinations – down from 91 per cent before the pandemic.

In the first three weeks of lockdown, immunisations fell by 20 per cent, research by Public Health England and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine showed.

Judith Blake, an LGA spokesman, said: “The national immunisation programme is highly successful in reducing the number of serious and life-threatening diseases … we really do encourage parents to check if their child needs any vaccinations to make sure they are properly protected.”

Dr Nikki Kanani, the NHS England national director of primary care, said: “MMR and other vaccination appointments are still going ahead safely … it is crucial that your children get their jabs as normal.”