Health professionals to give evidence to Lords committee on childhood vaccinations

On Monday, the House of Lords Childhood Vaccinations Committee will hold its first oral evidence session. The Special Inquiry Committee has been appointed to consider childhood vaccination rates in England, and it is expected to launch its call for evidence on Wednesday 11 March.  

The first session will cover the importance of childhood vaccination, evidence around the decline in childhood vaccination coverage in recent years, the consequences of this decline, and government priorities and policy.  

Giving evidence will be:  

• Dr Helen Stewart, Officer for Health Improvement, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health 

• Helen Donovan, Independent Nurse Consultant and former Public Health Nursing Lead, Royal College of Nursing 

• Dr Alexandra Creavin, National Institute for Health and Care Research Lecturer, Bristol University and Public Health Registrar, Bristol City Council  

Questions the committee is likely to ask include: 

• Why is childhood vaccination important and what impact does it have? 

• What is the evidence on childhood vaccination coverage in England, disparities in coverage, and how coverage and disparities are changing over time? 

• What are the consequences of the decline and disparities in childhood vaccination coverage, and what is parents' and the public's understanding of these consequences?  

• What is the evidence on why childhood vaccination coverage has declined in recent years, and why there are disparities in coverage? 

• Who is responsible and accountable for reversing the decline in childhood vaccination coverage and reducing disparities? How clear are lines of responsibility and accountability? 

• Has the Government identified the right priorities for improving childhood vaccination coverage and reducing disparities? 

• What are the main barriers to the effective delivery of policy to improve childhood vaccination coverage? What would be the best ways to overcome those barriers? 

The session will take place on Monday 9 March 2026 at 2:15pm and can be followed live on Parliament TV.