Here’s what we all know: vaccination has long been one of the most effective ways to protect children from serious illness.
Here’s what might come as news to us: recent data show declining vaccination rates in the UK, raising concerns among healthcare professionals, schools, and public health teams.
Here is a House of Commons paper that discusses the change in rates.
The paper discusses vaccination rates that relate specifically to:
- Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine
- The 6-in-1 Vaccine (DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB)
- Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV)
- Hib/MenC vaccine
- Meningitis B (MenB) vaccine
The common conclusion is that there is no single reason behind the decline in vaccine uptake among children (Which isn't helpful at all). Instead, a combination of factors has contributed to the decline.
It's interesting to write this for you as school staff, because, naturally, we all tend to separate our professional lives from our personal lives.
In reality, they're so interlinked that as we discover the reasons for declining rates, we will consider them as a Mum, a Dad, a stepparent, a foster parent, a carer.
1. Distruption to routine healthcare
The pandemic disrupted routine GP appointments and immunisation programmes - a massive impact. Many families missed scheduled vaccinations and, in some cases, never rebooked.
2. Misinformation and uncertainty
Parents today are exposed to vast amounts of health information online, and unfortunately, not all of it is accurate or reliable. Conflicting messages can create confusion, anxiety, or hesitancy, particularly around newer vaccines or changes to vaccination schedules.
Schools often become the first place where parents raise questions, even if they don’t expect staff to provide medical advice.
You, reading this, may have questioned the validity of vaccinations since the pandemic yourself, so we know this is a very real and tense topic.
3. Access and practical barriers
Some families face challenges such as:
- Difficulty getting GP appointments
- Language barriers
- Transport issues
- Lack of awareness that vaccinations are overdue
For these families, vaccination delays are not a matter of choice, but rather one of access.
4. Reduced visibility of serious illness
As vaccination programmes have been successful, many parents have never seen diseases like measles, mumps or rubella first-hand. This can make the risks feel distant or less urgent.
What we’ve got, then, is a series of factors that, on their own, seem small or solvable over time. Stack them together in the years following the pandemic, and we’ve got declining vaccine rates.
So, we know why vaccinations are falling.
Lower vaccination coverage increases the risk of outbreaks, particularly in environments where children mix closely.
For schools, this can lead to:
✅ Higher absence rates
✅ Increased illness-related disruption
✅ Pressure on first-aid and pastoral teams
✅ More complex safeguarding and health communications
Promoting accurate information supports not only individual families but also the wider school community.
We recognise that vaccinations can be a contentious issue, and we're not trying to weigh in on that conversation in your school.
However, as a school, you naturally have a vested interest in safety, attendance, and well-being - all of which are directly impacted by student and staff immunisation rates.
If you are looking to support an increase in vaccination rates amongst your school community, here are some tips for you.
1. Share trusted information (We can help with this. Keep reading and you'll see).
Signpost parents to reliable sources such as:
- NHS vaccination schedules (Here's a link for that)
- Local health visiting teams.
- School nursing services (if applicable).
- Including links in newsletters or on school websites helps families access credible guidance.
2. Use clear, neutral communication
This can be a minefield. What we want to avoid is sending out communications and then hearing the phones ring shortly afterwards. When communicating about outbreaks or public health advice:
We need to stick to facts:
‼️ Avoid emotive language
‼️ Reinforce that health decisions remain with families
‼️ Calm, consistent messaging builds trust. (We can help you with this. Keep reading, and you’ll see.)
3. Support school-based vaccination programmes
Where schools host immunisation sessions (e.g., flu or HPV vaccines), practical support is crucial. I know this can be niche and depends a lot on your school, but:
- Sharing dates early.
This is a big one. Giving parents ample warning also gives them time to deliberate on their actions before making any decision. Making anyone feel less rushed will help with due diligence. Offering reminders will be gold dust here.
- Explaining consent processes clearly.
- Supporting pupils on the day.
Fears of needles! I’m sure we all know someone with this one - if it’s not spiders, it’s needles. In our experience, a tub of Heroes on reception would always go down well.
4. Using health data to spot trends
Monitoring illness patterns and absence data can highlight potential vulnerabilities. Reviewing this information supports proactive planning and reinforces the importance of prevention.
Building confidence through awareness - not just among your staff, but also among the parent/carer community.
Imagine this, you can send out sections in your newsletters where you can say this:
“According to our data, we’re seeing a rise in X rates of Y. These have been steadily increasing for 2-3 weeks, so we now think it is appropriate to remind you of Z information.”
Look at that, dreamland. Evidence-backed bulletins that build trust and confidence as a result of increased awareness.
By strengthening school vaccine awareness, we will help protect pupils, reduce disruptions, and support the long-term health of their communities.