WIREDGOV

Figures published yesterday show that coverage¹ declined for nine of the 12 routine vaccinations² measured at age 12 months, 24 months or five years in 2017-18 in England compared to the previous year. It increased in one vaccine and remained at the same level in two.

Coverage for the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine for children reaching their second birthday fell to 91.2 per cent in England in 2017-18 compared to 91.6 per cent in 2016-17, according to the NHS Digital report, Childhood Vaccination Coverage Statistics.³

This is the fourth consecutive year that MMR coverage has decreased. The World Health Organisation (WHO) target is 95 per cent. Coverage for this vaccine fell in six of the nine English regions⁴.

The North East had the highest level of coverage at 94.5 per cent (down from 94.9 per cent in 2016-17). London had the lowest level of coverage at 85.1 per cent (unchanged from 2016-17).

England-wide MMR coverage for children reaching their fifth birthday fell from 95.0% in 2016-17 to 94.9% in 2017-18.

The report shows coverage for the 5-in-1 vaccine at 12 months⁵ has fallen from 94.7 per cent in 2012-13 to 93.1 per cent in 2017-18. It is the fifth successive year coverage for the vaccine for diphtheria, whooping cough (pertussis), tetanus, polio and Hib disease has fallen in children aged 12 months.

Of the nine English regions, the North East (95.5 per cent) and the South West (95 per cent) reached the target of 95 per cent coverage for the 5-in-1 vaccine at 12 months.

The Rotavirus vaccine was the only one that had an increase in coverage, from 89.6 per cent in 2016-17 to 90.1 per cent in 2017-18.

This year’s report is the first where figures for the meningitis B vaccine (Meningococcal group B, referred to as the MenB vaccine) are included as a national statistic, having been published as experimental statistics in last year’s report.⁶ These figures show that national coverage for this vaccine was 92.5 per cent. Eight out of nine regions achieved coverage above 90 per cent.

For all 13 routine vaccinations for which this report provides figures, the North East had the highest coverage and London had the lowest.

Read the full report:

Childhood Vaccination Coverage Statistics

National, regional and local data available via our interactive dashboard

Follow us on Twitter: @NHSDigital

Notes to editors

1. Coverage is defined as the number of persons immunised as a proportion of the eligible population. The formula for the calculation of coverage is:

(Total number of eligible persons immunised / Total number of persons in eligible population) x 100

2. List of vaccinations and ages at which coverage is measured are shown in this table:

3. ​The coverage figure for MMR at 24 months of 92.7% reported in 2013-14 was the highest since the vaccine was introduced in 1988, while its lowest point came in 2003-04 when coverage was 79.9%.
4. The 9 regions are:

• North East
• North West
• Yorkshire & Humber
• East Midlands
• West Midlands
• East of England
• London
• South East
• South West

5. The 5-in-1 vaccine was replaced with a 6-in-1 vaccine, adding protection against hepatitis B, in September 2017 for all babies born after 1 August 2017. As this report measures coverage levels for the 5-in-1 vaccine in children at 12 months, it continues to be a measure of the 5-in-1 vaccine for this reporting period.
6. Meningococcal group B (MenB) vaccine was introduced into the routine immunisation programme in September 2015 and is offered at 8 and 16 weeks of age with a booster after the first birthday.

NHS Digital is the national information and technology partner of the health and care system.  Our team of information analysis, technology and project management experts create, deliver and manage the crucial digital systems, services, products and standards upon which health and care professionals depend.  During the 2017-18 financial year, NHS Digital published 275 statistical reports. Our vision is to harness the power of information and technology to make health and care better. For media enquiries please contact media@nhsdigital.nhs.net or 0300 303 3888.