November 27, 2019

New national vaccination reminder system to boost childhood vaccination rates

A Conservative majority government will introduce a national vaccination reminder system to boost childhood vaccination rates, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has announced.

Every family will receive a reminder from their GP practice that it is time for their child’s next vaccination, to help reduce the number of delays in vaccinations and halt the spread of infectious but preventable diseases

While confidence in the UK’s world-leading vaccination programme remains high – with uptake exceeding 90% for most childhood immunisations – there has been a small but steady decline in coverage in recent years. Recent statistics show that just 87% of children are getting their second dose of the MMR jab, which has likely contributed to the spread of measles.

The new system will primarily operate through text messages and digital reminders, with the option for postal reminders for those without a digital medical record.

The move will come as part of a wider Vaccination Strategy, which the next Conservative Government will launch within the first 30 days of the new administration as part of a bid to regain the UK’s ‘measles-free’ status.

It comes on top of the Conservative manifesto plans to deliver 50 million more appointments in GP surgeries by boosting the number of primary care staff – which will improve families’ access to nurses and GPs to get their children vaccinated.

Jeremy Corbyn, meanwhile, has previously suggested a link between the MMR vaccine and autism – signing a parliamentary motion urging the government to investigate the links between the MMR vaccine and autism and calling for a full research programme to be established into the safety of the vaccines.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said:

The science is clear: vaccines save lives, and ensuring that children are properly immunised is one of the most important things any parent can do for their children.
So we will introduce a national vaccination reminder system, to make sure as many children as possible are vaccinated.
Jeremy Corbyn is not only trying to waste 2020 having two referendums – the fact that he doesn’t appear to accept that vaccines are a safe way to protect children from preventable disease shows he will never do what is necessary to regain our measles-free status as a country.
Only Boris Johnson and the Conservatives will get Brexit done and focus on the things that really matter to people – like ensuring that our children are healthy and protected.
Region Labour's Pension Tax (£) Extra Months to Work
England 11,167 44
East Midlands 6,150 50
Greater London 12,871 45
North East 9,758 38
North West 6,835 47
South East 14,270 40
South West 7,407 45
West Midlands 10,729 41
Northern Ireland 13,718 35
Scotland 10,653 41
Wales 11,691 36
United Kingdom 11,253 43

Commenting, Therese Coffey, Secretary of State for the Department of Work and Pensions, said:

“Corbyn’s Pension Tax will see ten million savers facing a huge bill forcing them to delay their retirement for almost three and a half years.
“This is just one of the ways a Corbyn government would hammer hardworking people on top of his plans to hike up taxes by £2,400 a year, as well as the cost of his plan for unlimited immigration and the chaos of 2020 being dominated by two more referendums – one on Brexit and another on Scottish independence.
“Only Boris Johnson and the Conservative Party can get Brexit done with a deal, get parliament working again and turbocharge our economy to unleash Britain’s potential.”

Read more about how this Pension Tax will impact millions of savers (PDF)

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