The UK is at risk of losing its position as a global leader on
vaccination without action to address challenges around uptake
and bureaucratic processes in setting up clinical trials. The
Health and Social Care Committee’s report on vaccination calls
for urgent action to tackle declining rates among children,
citing concern that England did not meet the 95% target for any
routine childhood immunisations in 2021/22.
MPs note that England was the only nation of the UK where
coverage for all childhood vaccines at all ages was below the
target, and coverage rates were consistently below the UK
average. The Committee urges a more flexible delivery model to
deliver vaccinations to overcome practical challenges over times
or locations.
This is the first report to be published by the Committee in its
major inquiry into preventing
ill-health with ten workstreams being examined.
MPs say the UK lags behind international competitors on support
for clinical research, in particular in the clinical trials
system, and they call for urgent reform. The Committee also wants
to see action now to ensure the readiness of NHS England, the
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulation Agency (MHRA) and
the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to
support innovations around preventative healthcare, such as
personalised cancer vaccine, given an uncertain timeframe.
, Chair of the Health and
Social Committee, said:
“Vaccination is the one of the greatest success stories when
it comes to preventing infection. However, unless the
Government addresses challenges around declining rates among
childhood immunisations and implements reform on
clinical trials, the UK’s position as a global leader
on vaccination risks being lost.
“The UK Health Security Agency issued a warning earlier
this month that London risks a measles outbreak of
tens of thousands of cases if MMR rates remain
low, and we’ve seen a spike in the capital and in the West
Midlands already, so that should be a massive wake-up
call.
“When it comes to developing the medicines of the
future, it’s alarming to hear that industrial clinical
trial activity in the UK is at the lowest point to
date. One of the challenges is the slowness
of bureaucratic processes to set up trials. This and
other challenges must be fixed if we
are to make the most of our world-leading academic
and research expertise.”
ENDS
Please see report for full conclusions and
recommendations
Further information:
- MPs examined the role of new vaccines in
one evidence session with a further session with a Minister
on declining vaccination
rates.
- Other themes are: healthy places; health inequalities;
mental health and wellbeing; healthy eating and obesity; smoking,
drugs, alcohol, and gambling; sexual health; early years and
childhood; cancer prevention; other major conditions. Further
details here.
- The chosen themes were selected from more than 600
submissions from researchers and organisations involved in
preventative healthcare.
