DHSC to give evidence to Peers on childhood vaccinations

On Monday, the House of Lords Childhood Vaccinations Committee will be hearing from the Minister and officials from the Department for Health and Social Care as part of its inquiry into childhood vaccination coverage in England. 

The purpose of the session is to scrutinise Government action to reverse the decline in childhood vaccination coverage and reduce disparities, and to test potential conclusions and recommendations with the Minister. 

Giving evidence at 2:15pm will be: 

• Sharon Hodgson MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention, Department of Health and Social Care  

• Catherine Frances CB, Director General, Global, Public Health and Emergencies, Department of Health and Social Care  

• Caroline Temmink, Director of Vaccination, NHS England 

Questions the committee is likely to ask include: 

• Are the Government and the NHS doing enough to reverse the decline in childhood vaccination rates and reduce inequalities? 

• What is the Government doing to strengthen responsibility and accountability for improving childhood vaccination coverage and reducing inequalities at all levels in the system? 

• What is the Government doing to make booking systems for childhood vaccination more flexible and easier to navigate? 

• What is the Government doing to ensure all healthcare professionals who may be able to inform vaccination decisions have the time and knowledge to talk to parents? 

• The committee has heard that funding for childhood vaccinations through primary care and SAIS is not equitable. How will this be changed? 

• How are proposed neighbourhood health services expected to change childhood vaccination delivery?  

• How will the Government support and incentivise ICBs to prioritise, commission and fund sustainable, evidence-based outreach, including through multi-year funding settlements? 

• Will the Government commit to developing and delivering a communications strategy to make sure everyone has the information they need about childhood vaccination? 

• Will the Government ensure all partners involved in childhood vaccination data systems work together to ensure system leaders, providers and patients have the data they need, when they need it? 

The session will take place on Monday 6 July 2026 and can be followed live on Parliament TV.