Chair urges Government rethink to boost vaccination uptake following new baby deaths

Chair's comment

Commenting on the continuing rise in cases of whooping cough and five infant deaths, Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee Steve Brine MP said:

"It’s a tragedy that five children have died as a result of catching whooping cough when vaccination is available and will offer the best protection for very young babies most at risk.

Today’s figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) highlight the need for rapid action to prevent a further fall in the uptake of vaccinations across the country.

In our work on this subject, my committee urged the government to heed the lessons of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout making the most of the wide range of healthcare professionals who could deliver vaccines in easy to reach places. Specifically, to give medical and nursing students and recently retired staff a greater role to help boost declining rates, a call Ministers rejected.

In the light of today’s sad news, I urge the government to rethink its approach and follow steps we have outlined to boost vaccination uptake across the country."

Committee's recommendations on vaccination and Government Response

• The Health and Social Care Committee’s report, Prevention in health and social care: vaccination, called for urgent action to tackle declining rates among children with evidence that England did not meet the 95% target for any routine childhood immunisations in 2021/22. MPs had urged a more flexible delivery model to deliver routine vaccinations to overcome practical challenges over times or locations, alongside an expanded workforce.
• Read the Government Response to the Committee's report.

Furher information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

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