Rise in baby jab rates in South Tyneside

The proportion of babies vaccinated for measles, mumps and rubella has increased in South Tyneside – remaining above the level needed for herd immunity.
More parents in South Tyneside are having their babies immunisedMore parents in South Tyneside are having their babies immunised
More parents in South Tyneside are having their babies immunised

Despite an increase in MMR vaccination rates nationally, the British Society for Immunology warned that the level was still below the 95% target and could mean diseases spreading to vulnerable, unvaccinated people.

Figures from NHS Digital show 96.7% of babies in South Tyneside received the first dose of the MMR vaccination by their second birthday in 2019-20 – one of the highest rates in the country.

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This was an increase on the 96.2% the year before, but means 56 babies were not inoculated this year.

Nationally, the proportion of children having their first dose of the jab increased from 90.3% in 2018-19 to 90.6% in 2019-20 – still well below the 95% needed for herd immunity.

This is the first time in six years that MMR coverage nationwide has increased, following a peak of 92.7% in 2013-14.

Vaccination rates fell and measles rates began to rise following a – later discredited – study in 1998 claiming the jabs were unsafe.

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Dr Doug Brown, chief executive of the British Society for Immunology, welcomed the “small increase in uptake” but added: "It is a step in the right direction but we must still take urgent action to overcome the ongoing trend of missing the 95% target set out by the World Health Organisation.

“Low levels of vaccination coverage matter. It means diseases such as measles have the potential to spread, infecting unvaccinated people, including vulnerable individuals.

In South Tyneside, 93.8% of children had received both doses of the MMR vaccine before the age of five in 2019-20 – compared to 86.8% across England.

Dr Nikki Kanani, GP and NHS national director of primary care, said: “Vaccines provide vital protection against life-threatening diseases and NHS staff are working hard to ensure that MMR and other vital vaccination appointments are still going ahead safely throughout the pandemic.

"As a mum and a GP, I want to remind other parents that getting your kids their vaccination is not only safe, but potentially life-saving.”