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The health secretary has announced a new initiative aimed at delivering vaccinations to young children from disadvantaged families in certain areas of England. This pilot program seeks to increase immunisation rates by enabling health visitors to carry out vaccinations at home, focusing on those who might otherwise miss out on routine NHS care. These health professionals will receive additional training to support small groups of families facing barriers such as lack of GP registration, language difficulties, or challenges related to travel and childcare.
Wes Streeting expressed his concern over the historical neglect of children’s healthcare, stating in an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that he was “shocked” by the insufficient attention given to this area during his time in opposition. He highlighted the natural human instinct to protect children and pointed out that this instinct is not adequately mirrored by state provisions. The pilot scheme is a step towards remedying that, targeting those most at risk of missing out on essential vaccinations. The government plans to trial this approach in twelve locations spanning London, the Midlands, the North East and Yorkshire, the North West, and the South West over the course of a year, while continuing to encourage other families to visit their local surgeries for vaccination.
Recent data indicates a decline in childhood vaccine uptake over the past decade, with no immunisation reaching the 95% coverage target for children aged five and under. Health visitors, who are registered nurses or midwives with further training in community public health, typically work with families to assess and address health needs of young children. However, there has been a reduction in their numbers and community nursing staff over recent years, prompting the government to develop a recruitment and workforce plan to reverse this trend. Despite this, opposition parties have criticised the current government’s approach. Shadow health secretary Stuart Andrew accused Labour of lacking a coherent strategy for children’s health and the broader health service.
Professor Steve Turner, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, supported the pilot program and urged the health secretary to correct past failures. He condemned the long waiting times for children’s health services, describing them as a “national scandal,” and pointed out that it is common for children to wait longer than the NHS’s 18-week target, with about a quarter waiting over a year for community treatment—a stark contrast to just 1% of adults facing similar delays. Professor Turner stressed that delays in care during critical developmental periods can cause permanent harm and called for urgent action to end the disparity between adult and child health services. He emphasised the need to address issues such as childhood obesity, mental health, nicotine exposure, and low vaccination rates. Starting January 2026, children up to six years old in the UK will be offered NHS-funded vaccinations against chickenpox
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