From misinformation to access issues: What's stopping your patient getting a vaccine?

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By Emma Wilkinson

At the annual meeting of the UKHSA, experts identified factors harming immunisation rates - and identified success stories for getting back on track.

Despite one of the most comprehensive immunisation schedules of any country, vaccine uptake in the UK for children and teenagers has been in a steady decline.

The 95% NHS uptake target has been missed across the board for many years. For MMR, now with the addition of varicella, uptake is more than 90% for those in the wealthiest areas but only 84% for those in the most deprived. There are pockets around the country where uptake is lower than half. The pattern for HPV vaccination in adolescents is similar.

Experts gathered in Manchester at the annual conference of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) this week discussed the issues that affect vaccination, including misinformation, lack of trust in healthcare professionals and cultural barriers – but also opportunities to strengthen work at a local level.