Measles: GP catch-up vaccination campaign starts after two deaths in six months

Measles: GP catch-up vaccination campaign starts after two deaths in six months Jacqui WiseThis year's national catch up vaccination campaign will focus on the measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine after two measles deaths in the first half of the year and ongoing outbreaks, NHS England has said.A large measles outbreak, mostly affecting unvaccinated children, was confirmed in northeast London earlier this year. 1 In June the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported that two children in England died from measles so far this year. 2The latest UKHSA figures show there were over 801 confirmed cases of measles between 1 January 2026 and 15 June 2026, compared with 959 cases for the whole of 2025. 3 Over half (54%) of measles cases were in London, with 17% in the West Midlands and 11% in the north west.However, the UKHSA said that all regions have reported at least one confirmed case this year.NHS England said there is a gap of 7.5% in vaccine coverage between the least and the most deprived areas of the country.The vaccination rate for both measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) doses at the age of 5 years in England is 84.1%, which is far lower than the 95% target set by the World Health Organization.In January WHO confirmed that the UK had lost its measles elimination status. 4 In January 2026 the combined four in one MMRV jab was introduced into the NHS routine childhood vaccination programme to replace the MMR vaccine. 5 The national catch up vaccination campaign started at the beginning of July and will run until March next year.General practices are required to contact parents of children aged between 12 months and 6 years who have missed one or both doses of the MMR or MMRV vaccine.Practices are also asked to support requests for vaccination of children aged 6 to 11 years who will be invited by the NHS app, text message, email, or letter.Practices will receive an item of service payment of £12.06 for each vaccination administered and will also be able to earn additional funding through the Quality and Outcomes Framework. 6 NHS director of vaccination Caroline Temmink said, "Measles can be devastating for families, with sometimes tragic consequences, which is why we're reaching out to parents to help them protect their children."This is why GPs based in the communities they know so well are contacting families to help overcome any barriers to getting children the protection they need." 1