Concern as Immunisation Take-Up Declines in Wales

Concern as immunisation take-up declines in Wales

 A new NHS report shows that the number of children who were up to date with their routine immunisations by the age of four has decreased for the second consecutive quarter.

The downward trend is a “real worry” for children and the wider community, according to Angela Burns AM.

Between April and June, the rate of immunisation for this age bracket dropped to just below 85% – 10% below the Welsh Government’s target – with take-up of the so-called ‘4-in-1’ pre-school booster vaccine seeing the largest decrease.

The ‘4-in-1’ inoculates children against diphtheria, tetanus, polio and whooping cough – the last of which has seen a rise in prevalence since devolution began, with 62 cases recorded in 1999 compared to 403 cases in 2015.

The report also reveals that all of NHS Wales’ seven health boards are falling well short of the Welsh Government’s 95% four-year routine immunisation target. Aneurin Bevan health board performed worst on this measure with 78%.

Five of Wales’ health boards scored lower immunisation rates for the latest quarter compared to the same quarter last year.

Commenting on the data, Welsh Conservative Shadow Secretary for Health, Angela Burns AM, said:

“It is incredibly important that all children in Wales receive routine immunisation at the earliest opportunity to give them the best chance of protection against what are potentially lethal diseases.

“That immunisation rates are dropping across Wales is a real worry. The Welsh Government must immediately take steps to implement a public health awareness campaign to ensure that immunisation services are properly signposted for parents.

“The disparity of immunisation rates among health boards is unacceptable and highlights that people across Wales are not receiving a common level of care.

“Protecting children also prevents disease being passed on to family members and others in the community, such as clinical risk groups and older people.”