Major change to childhood immunisation schedule after concern over surge in killer infection
Plus, everything you need to know about the MMR jab - from whether it's safe to what it's made from
JABS UP Major change to childhood immunisation schedule after concern over surge in killer infection
HEALTH chiefs have unveiled "significant" changes to the childhood vaccination schedule following a sharp rise in cases of a deadly infection.
The age at which children get the MMR jab, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella has been brought forward from three years old to just 18 months.
Advertisement
1
It comes after the UK has seen a huge spike in measles cases over the last few years, while vaccine rates have plummeted.
Globally, rates of the lethal Victorian disease had doubled in the past year alone.
Two doses offer up to 99 per cent protection against measles, mumps and rubella, which can lead to deadly meningitis, hearing loss and problems during pregnancy.
Officals from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) hope the move with "improve uptake and provide earlier protection".
Advertisement
There are four other changes to the jab programme which will "optimise the overall protection of children in the UK", they added.
One of the main tweaks is the introduction of a new fourth dose of the 6-in-1 vaccine, given at 18 months.
This jab protects against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (also known as pertussis), polio, hepatitis B and Hib - short for haemophilus influenzae type b.
Hib is a type of bacteria that can cause life-threatening infections like meningitis and sepsis.
Advertisement
The change will apply to children turning one on or after July 1, 2025, who will then be offered the extra dose when they hit 18 months.
Health officials say the update is needed because the current Hib/Men C vaccine, called Menitorix, which is offered at the one-year mark, is being discontinued due to supply issues.
Dr Philippa Kaye urges parents to get their children vaccinated as measles infections surge
Despite this, the 12-month appointment will still include the first dose of the MMR vaccine. along with booster shots for meningitis B and pneumococcal disease.
Other changes involve the second dose of the meningitis B vaccine being given earlier, at 12 weeks instead of 16. This follows a recent study showing that earlier protection could be more effective.
Advertisement
To balance this out and avoid too many jabs at one time, the first dose of the pneumococcal vaccine is being moved from 12 weeks to 16 weeks.
From January 1, 2026, children turning 18 months will be offered their second MMR jab much earlier than before - at 18 months instead of waiting until three years and four months.
However, kids who are already between 18 months and three years four months on January 1, 2026, will stay on the current schedule and get their second MMR dose at the usual time.
Changes to routine childhood immunisation schedule
From July 2025: The Hib/Men C vaccine (Menitorix) will no longer be given to children turning one.
will no longer be given to children turning one. The second meningitis B dose will be moved from 16 weeks to 12 weeks .
will be moved from . The first pneumococcal (PCV) dose will be moved from 12 weeks to 16 weeks .
will be moved from . The monovalent hepatitis B dose given at one year (for some babies) will be stopped.
From January 2026: A new fourth dose of the 6-in-1 vaccine (DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB) will be introduced at 18 months .
of the will be introduced at . The second MMR dose will be moved from 3 years 4 months to 18 months.
Latest NHS Digital data shows that in some parts of England, up to three in ten children haven't had both MMR jabs by the time they turn five.
Advertisement
But the figure needs to be above 90 per cent to stop outbreaks, public health guidance says.
Measles mostly produces flu-like symptoms including a fever, a cough, a cold, and a blotchy rash that is usually not itchy.
But in some cases, it can travel to other parts of the body, like the lungs or brain, and cause serious illness.
Complications include pneumonia, meningitis, blindness, seizures, and death.
Advertisement
It is transmitted through direct contact with airborne droplets that spread when a person breathes, coughs, or sneezes.
It's very unlikely to be measles if you've had both MMR vaccine doses or had measles before.
The MMR vaccine is free to everyone on the NHS and is available from GP surgeries.
'Will save the lives of more very young babies'
Professor Azeem Majeed, from Imperial College London, told GP magazine Pulse: "The changes to the NHS childhood vaccination programme have important implications for general practices and parents of children in England.
Advertisement
"For general practices, the guidance requires significant adjustments to vaccination schedules, increased administrative efforts, and proactive communication to ensure compliance and maintain high uptake.
"For parents, the changes mean adapting to a new 18-month appointment, understanding the revised schedule based on their child's birth date, and ensuring timely vaccinations."
Dr Julie Yates, from UKHSA, added: "Following a review of the latest evidence, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommended a number of changes to optimise the Childhood Immunisation programme and increase overall protection of children in the UK.
"With the UK close to seeing an end to Meningitis C circulating, JCVI advised that a vaccination is no longer required for infants due to the excellent population protection provided by the adolescent Meningitis ACWY programme.
Advertisement
"Other changes, such as the bringing forward of the Meningitis B vaccine are based on evidence that will save the lives of more very young babies."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
10 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Concerns raised over measles risk as families take summer breaks in Europe
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that cases in Europe had reached their highest level in almost three decades last year. It warned that a decline in childhood vaccinations – including the jab that protects against measles – in England leaves more children at risk of disease. UKHSA urged families planning for their summer holidays to check their vaccination status before travelling, and to make sure particularly that they had had two doses of the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella. As well as a rise in cases across Europe, health experts warned of continuing pockets of cases in England, particularly London. 'It's essential that everyone, particularly parents of young children, check all family members are up to date with two MMR doses, especially if you are travelling this summer for holidays or visiting family,' said UKHSA consultant epidemiologist Dr Vanessa Saliba. 'Measles cases are picking up again in England and outbreaks are happening in Europe and many countries with close links to the UK. 🚨 We are reminding parents and guardians to ensure their children are protected against #Measles by taking up 2 doses of the #MMR vaccine at the right time. Anyone who has not had 2 doses of the vaccine can contact their GP surgery to catch — UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) June 5, 2025 'Measles spreads very easily and can be a nasty disease, leading to complications like ear and chest infections and inflammation of the brain, with some children tragically ending up in hospital and suffering life-long consequences. 'Nobody wants this for their child and it's not something you want to experience when away on holiday. 'The MMR vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your family from measles. 'It is never too late to catch up, if you're not sure if any of your family are up to date, check their Red Book or contact your GP practice. Don't put it off and regret it later.' Dr Amanda Doyle, from NHS England, said: 'The recent increase in cases seen in England and Europe should act as an important reminder to ensure your child is protected. 'MMR jabs are provided free as part of the NHS routine immunisation programme – and I would encourage all parents to act on invites or check vaccination records if they think they may have missed their child's vaccination.' New figures from the UKHSA show that in England there were 109 cases of measles confirmed in April and 86 in May, with most cases among unvaccinated children, although there have been some cases among unvaccinated young people and adults. Half of the cases in the last four weeks were in London, with outbreaks also seen in the North West and the West Midlands, it added. Meanwhile, a global increase in measles, including Europe, has led the agency to say it is concerned that this could mean people bring back the contagious disease to England after travel this summer. There were more than 127,000 cases of measles in Europe last year, according to global health leaders, the highest number since 1997. And UKHSA said that so far this year, outbreaks have been documented in France, Italy, Spain and Germany. The health authority said that it is 'concerned that more outbreaks may occur again on a larger scale this summer as families with unvaccinated children and adults travel to countries where there are outbreaks'. #Measles is highly contagious and can cause serious complications. 🏥It's easily preventable with the #MMR vaccine, so make sure that you and your loved ones are up to date and catch up on any missed doses. 🛡🔗 — UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) June 4, 2025 The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently reported that Romania, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Indonesia and Nigeria currently have among the largest number of measles cases worldwide. The UKHSA said that the decline in uptake of childhood vaccinations during the past decade means that 'many thousands of children are left unprotected'. Measles is highly infectious and can lead to serious complications. People with this infection have a number of cold and flu-like symptoms and a rash appears a few days after symptoms start. On rare occasions, measles can also lead to meningitis and brain swelling, which can cause long-term disabilities or even death.
Glasgow Times
13 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Concerns raised over measles risk as families take summer breaks in Europe
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that cases in Europe had reached their highest level in almost three decades last year. It warned that a decline in childhood vaccinations – including the jab that protects against measles – in England leaves more children at risk of disease. UKHSA urged families planning for their summer holidays to check their vaccination status before travelling, and to make sure particularly that they had had two doses of the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella. As well as a rise in cases across Europe, health experts warned of continuing pockets of cases in England, particularly London. 'It's essential that everyone, particularly parents of young children, check all family members are up to date with two MMR doses, especially if you are travelling this summer for holidays or visiting family,' said UKHSA consultant epidemiologist Dr Vanessa Saliba. 'Measles cases are picking up again in England and outbreaks are happening in Europe and many countries with close links to the UK. 🚨 We are reminding parents and guardians to ensure their children are protected against #Measles by taking up 2 doses of the #MMR vaccine at the right time. Anyone who has not had 2 doses of the vaccine can contact their GP surgery to catch — UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) June 5, 2025 'Measles spreads very easily and can be a nasty disease, leading to complications like ear and chest infections and inflammation of the brain, with some children tragically ending up in hospital and suffering life-long consequences. 'Nobody wants this for their child and it's not something you want to experience when away on holiday. 'The MMR vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your family from measles. 'It is never too late to catch up, if you're not sure if any of your family are up to date, check their Red Book or contact your GP practice. Don't put it off and regret it later.' Dr Amanda Doyle, from NHS England, said: 'The recent increase in cases seen in England and Europe should act as an important reminder to ensure your child is protected. 'MMR jabs are provided free as part of the NHS routine immunisation programme – and I would encourage all parents to act on invites or check vaccination records if they think they may have missed their child's vaccination.' New figures from the UKHSA show that in England there were 109 cases of measles confirmed in April and 86 in May, with most cases among unvaccinated children, although there have been some cases among unvaccinated young people and adults. Half of the cases in the last four weeks were in London, with outbreaks also seen in the North West and the West Midlands, it added. Meanwhile, a global increase in measles, including Europe, has led the agency to say it is concerned that this could mean people bring back the contagious disease to England after travel this summer. There were more than 127,000 cases of measles in Europe last year, according to global health leaders, the highest number since 1997. And UKHSA said that so far this year, outbreaks have been documented in France, Italy, Spain and Germany. The health authority said that it is 'concerned that more outbreaks may occur again on a larger scale this summer as families with unvaccinated children and adults travel to countries where there are outbreaks'. #Measles is highly contagious and can cause serious complications. 🏥It's easily preventable with the #MMR vaccine, so make sure that you and your loved ones are up to date and catch up on any missed doses. 🛡🔗 — UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) June 4, 2025 The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently reported that Romania, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Indonesia and Nigeria currently have among the largest number of measles cases worldwide. The UKHSA said that the decline in uptake of childhood vaccinations during the past decade means that 'many thousands of children are left unprotected'. Measles is highly infectious and can lead to serious complications. People with this infection have a number of cold and flu-like symptoms and a rash appears a few days after symptoms start. On rare occasions, measles can also lead to meningitis and brain swelling, which can cause long-term disabilities or even death.
Daily Mirror
19 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Urgent new alert as 'highly infectious' disease spreads across UK
The UK Health Security Agency has issued a warning as the disease has continued to spread rapidly The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has today released its monthly update on measles cases in England, revealing that outbreaks are continuing. In April, 109 cases were confirmed and May's figures to date showed 86. The majority of these cases have been in unvaccinated children aged 10 years and under, with London reporting almost half of all cases in the past four weeks. There has also been a global increase in measles cases over the last year, including Europe. The agency is concerned that travel for holidays or to visit family this summer could lead to another surge of measles cases in England. Today's latest measles epidemiology report on the UKHSA Data Dashboard reveals: Since the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1968, at least 20 million measles cases and 4,500 deaths have been prevented in the UK. However, measles remains endemic in many countries around the world. With declines in MMR vaccine uptake observed over the last decade, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, we have also seen large measles outbreaks in Europe and other countries. An analysis by the World Health Organization (WHO) Europe and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), reported 127,350 measles cases in the European Region for 2024. This is double the number of cases reported for 2023 and the highest number since 1997. This year, several European countries including France, Italy, Spain and Germany have seen outbreaks of measles. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported that Romania, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Indonesia and Nigeria currently have among the largest number of measles cases worldwide. Decline in vaccinations In England, there's been a decline in the uptake of childhood vaccinations, including MMR, over the past decade. This is well below the WHO's 95% target, leaving many thousands of children unprotected and at risk of outbreaks linked to nurseries and schools. London has the lowest MMR uptake rates compared with other English regions, with just 73.3% of 5 year olds receiving the second dose of the vaccine, compared to the English average of 83.9%. From Autumn 2023 to summer 2024, England experienced its biggest outbreak of measles since 2012, particularly affecting young children. Although cases have declined since last year's peak, local outbreaks continue. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned that measles is "one of the most highly infectious diseases and spreads rapidly among those who are unvaccinated". The agency is concerned that more outbreaks may occur on a larger scale this summer as families with unvaccinated children and adults travel to countries where there are outbreaks. The UKHSA added: "It is important that anyone travelling for summer holidays or to visit family, especially parents of young children, check that all members of their family have received both their MMR vaccines. "Getting vaccinated means you are also helping protect others who can't have the vaccine, including infants under one year and people with weakened immune systems, who are at greater risk of serious illness and complications from measles." Dr Vanessa Saliba, a consultant epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency, said: "It's essential that everyone, particularly parents of young children, check all family members are up to date with two MMR doses, especially if you are travelling this summer for holidays or visiting family. Measles cases are picking up again in England and outbreaks are happening in Europe and many countries with close links to the UK. "Measles spreads very easily and can be a nasty disease, leading to complications like ear and chest infections and inflammation of the brain with some children tragically ending up in hospital and suffering life-long consequences. Nobody wants this for their child and it's not something you want to experience when away on holiday. "The MMR vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your family from measles. Babies under the age of 1 and some people who have weakened immune systems can't have the vaccine and are at risk of more serious complications if they get measles. They rely on the rest of us getting the vaccine to protect them. "It is never too late to catch up, if you're not sure if any of your family are up to date, check their Red Book or contact your GP practice. Don't put it off and regret it later." Dr Amanda Doyle, national director for primary care and community services at NHS England, remarked: "Tens of thousands of additional MMR vaccinations were delivered following NHS action last year to protect children against measles, mumps and rubella, and the recent increase in cases seen in England and Europe should act as an important reminder to ensure your child is protected. "Too many babies and young children are still not protected against the diseases, which are contagious infections that spread very easily and can cause serious health problems. MMR jabs are provided free as part of the NHS routine immunisation programme – and I would encourage all parents to act on invites or check vaccination records if they think they may have missed their child's vaccination." When vaccines are offered The first MMR vaccine is given to little ones at one year old, with a second dose during pre-school age at around three years and four months. Receiving two doses of the vaccine ensures about 99% protection from measles and rubella. While mumps prevention isn't as high, vaccinated individuals who get mumps usually have much milder symptoms. Anyone of any age who hasn't had both shots can get in touch with their local surgery to book a jab. Remember, catching up on vaccinations can happen at any time. It's particularly important to check you've had both doses if you are: For more information on measles, mumps and rubella see the UKHSA resource:
