Number of babies vaccinated in region drops

Despite an increase in MMR vaccination rates across England, the British Society for Immunology warned the national level was still below target and could mean diseases such as measles spreading to vulnerable, unvaccinated people.

Figures from NHS Digital show 87.3 per cent of babies in Wolverhampton received the first dose of the MMR vaccination by their second birthday in 2019-20.

This was a decrease on the 89.8 per cent of two-year-olds who were vaccinated the year before and means 447 babies were not inoculated this year.

Over in Dudley, 93.9 per cent of babies received their first dose by the age of two, a decrease on the 94.3 per cent the year before.

So 224 babies were not vaccinated this year. In Walsall it was 91.3 per cent of babies this year – a bit lower than 93.3 per cent of last year – it means 338 babies missed out on their jab.

Spread

And in Sandwell 89.1 per cent of babies received their first MMR dose by their second birthday in 2019-20, lower than the 90.2 per cent the year before. A total of 496 babies were not inoculated this year.

Only in Staffordshire had the number risen slightly. Figures show 93.8 per cent of babies received their first dose of MMR by the age of two, an increase of 93.3 per cent the year before. But it still meant 543 little ones went without the jab this year.

Across England, the proportion of children having their first dose of the jab increased from 90.3 per cent in 2018-19 to 90.6 per cent in 2019-20 – though it is still well below the 95 per cent needed for herd immunity.

This is the first time in six years that MMR coverage nationwide has increased, following a peak of 92.7 per cent in 2013-14.

Dr Doug Brown, chief executive of the British Society for Immunology said: “Low levels of vaccination coverage matter as it means diseases such as measles have the potential to spread within our communities.”