Experts on outreach, data flows and system integration to give evidence on childhood vaccinations

On Monday, the House of Lords Childhood Vaccinations Committee will be hearing from experts on outreach, data flows and system integration. The purpose of the sessions is to explore supplementary provision of childhood vaccinations and childhood vaccination data systems. 

Giving evidence at 2:15pm will be: 

• Dr Nick Thayer, Head of Policy, Company Chemists' Association  

• Caroline Smith, Joint Clinical Lead, Northumbria Healthcare School-Aged Immunisation Service  
   

Questions the committee is likely to ask include: 

• What are the roles of your providers in the delivery of pre-school and school-aged vaccination programmes? 

• What is the evidence on uptake of vaccinations at pharmacies? 

• Is the NHS aim for childhood vaccinations to be delivered through a core offer in primary care and schools, as well as a supplementary and outreach offer the right approach? 

• How well do commissioning and funding arrangements support the delivery of childhood vaccinations, including supplementary and outreach offers? 

• How well do data systems support the delivery of childhood vaccinations, including supplementary and outreach offers? 

Giving evidence at 3:15pm will be:  

• Dr Colin Campbell, Consultant Medical Epidemiologist, UKHSA  

• Paul Midson, Head of CHIS Informatics, NHS SCW 

• Simon Hailstone, Consultant in Public Health, NHS England London Region 

Questions the committee is likely to ask include: 

• What are the key data systems for childhood vaccination programmes? What are the key strengths and weaknesses of those systems? 

• Who is responsible and accountable for improving data systems for childhood vaccination? 

• What are the key priorities of DHSC, UKHSA and NHS England for improving childhood vaccination data systems? 

• What are the potential risks and benefits of wider NHS data reforms for childhood vaccination data systems, including the planned Single Patient Record? 

• How well do data systems support the sharing of data about a child's vaccination status between healthcare providers and with patients? What are the main barriers to sharing data, and what would be the best ways to overcome them? 

• How well do data systems support national, regional and local surveillance of vaccination uptake, coverage and disparities? What are the main barriers to improving surveillance, and what would be the best ways to overcome them? 

The sessions will take place on Monday 1 June 2026 and can be followed live on Parliament TV.