Fewer children in Wakefield protected against meningitis than before the pandemic

During World Immunisation Week, which began on Monday, health officials have warned some young people are at risk of potentially deadly meningitis and blood poisoning after a fall in vaccine coverage among teenagers across the country.

The UK Health Security Agency figures show 75.1% of year 9 students in Wakefield got the MenACWY vaccine – which protects against four strains of the meningococcal bacteria – in the 2021-22 academic year.

This is a significant fall from 91% in 2018-19, the last academic year before the pandemic.

Across England, uptake of the vaccine has fallen from 88% in 2018-19 to just 69.2% last year.

Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA said: “In recent years we have seen vaccine uptake fall due to the challenges posed by the pandemic. Many young people who missed out on their vaccinations have already been caught up, but more needs to be done to ensure all those eligible are vaccinated.

“These vaccines offer the best protection as young people start their journey into adulthood and mixing more widely, whether going to college, starting work, travelling or going to summer festivals.”

There has also been a country-wide decline in uptake for the 3-in-1 vaccine – which protects against tetanus, diphtheria and polio. It fell from 87.6% among year 9 students pre-pandemic to 69% last year.

In Wakefield, uptake of the 3-in-1 booster dropped from 91% in the last pre-pandemic school year to 75.1% last year.

Health Minister Maria Caulfield said: "It’s incredibly important for children to stay up to date with routine vaccinations as this remains one of our best defences against infectious diseases, not just for the person being vaccinated but for their family, friends and those around them."

She added that in support of World Immunisation Week, she is urging parents to speak to their school nurse, school immunisation team or GP surgery to book an appointment if their children are not vaccinated.

Last week, Unicef said about 67 million children around the world did not receive routine jabs between 2019 and 2021.

The international children’s body added overall support for vaccines remains “relatively strong” but several factors suggest the “threat of vaccine hesitancy may be growing”.