A SHOT IN THE ARM FOR CHILD HEALTH: THE JOURNAL OF THE HEALTH VISITORS' ASSOCIATION

ABSTRACT

Childhood vaccination rates are generally high in the UK, but there is considerable room for improvement. Two major issues are currently a cause for concern. The first is a small but gradual decline in uptake each year since 2012/13, and the other, persistent inequalities in uptake, with large variation between geographic areas and population groups. Here, Bedford reviews the current vaccine uptake and the possible causes of the decline.