South West leads England in childhood vaccination coverage
Region excels in new immunisation schedule
The South West is leading England in childhood vaccination coverage, according to new provisional data published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), showing promising results from recent changes to the immunisation schedule.
The region topped six vaccination measures for April 2026, including meningitis B (MenB), measles, chickenpox, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, and rotavirus.
Most notably, the first dose coverage of the new MMRV vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox, reached 83.0% for children aged 15 months in the South West, compared to a 78.8% national average.
Within the South West, Dorset set itself apart as the best-performing local authority in England, achieving 93.9% coverage for the MMRV first dose.
The South West also leads on other vaccines, including MenB, the 6-in-1 dose, rotavirus, and the dTaP/IPV booster, reflecting effective execution of recent changes to the routine immunisation schedule following JCVI advice.
Josh Howkins, Acting Consultant in Health Protection at UKHSA South West, praised the region's performance and urged parents to ensure their children are up to date with their vaccinations.
"It is genuinely heartening to see the South West leading England on childhood vaccination coverage, and Dorset's performance in particular is outstanding," Howkins said.
Despite the regional success, he noted that national vaccination figures still fall short, with measles cases remaining a concern, underscoring the importance of catching up on missed doses.
Georgina Angel, Consultant in Public Health and Screening and Immunisation Lead for NHS England South West, reminded parents that vaccines not only protect individual children but also help safeguard the wider community.
“It’s positive that the South West is leading the way for childhood vaccine coverage in England," Angel said.
She encouraged parents to check their children's vaccination records through the Red Book or GP surgery, as the NHS's forthcoming national vaccines catch-up campaign will focus on MMR/V vaccinations due to rising measles cases.
Further information on NHS vaccination schedules is available at NHS.uk.
Lanvell Blake from UKHSA is available for interviews, offering insights into the South West's leading vaccination coverage.