The Department continues to work with the UK Health Security Agency and NHS England to promote vaccine uptake by providing diverse delivery methods to make getting vaccinated easier, increasing outreach efforts to under-served groups, and raising awareness of the dangers of vaccine preventable diseases.

The launch of the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccination programme in January 2026 saw a press campaign to inform and educate the public on the benefits of vaccination, with key bursts of activity on all childhood immunisations to continue throughout the year. In February 2026 the Department launched a national childhood vaccination campaign targeting parents and guardians of children aged zero to five years old to encourage uptake of all childhood vaccinations. This includes television and video on demand advertising, online video, social media, and digital display advertising, and partnerships with parenting forums, with activity prioritised to low uptake communities and geographical areas.

From January 2026, the age at which the second MMRV dose is offered was brought forward to 18 months from three years and four months old, based on evidence that this earlier appointment could improve uptake and provide earlier protection against measles.

In line with the 10-Year Health Plan, pathfinders are underway in 12 locations across the country, delivering childhood vaccinations, including MMRV, during health visits to pre-school children from underserved groups.

Whilst vaccine delivery is devolved to Scotland, we collaborate closely with our Scottish counterparts to maximise vaccine coverage across the United Kingdom.

Work is continuing to consistently and comprehensively implement the UK Measles and Rubella Elimination Strategy, which is specifically designed for achieving and maintaining measles elimination status, in line with the World Health Organization’s guidance and recommendations.

The Department, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), and NHS England work closely with the devolved administrations and other partners to consistently implement the strategy. As part of this, the UKHSA facilitates the Measles and Rubella Elimination Strategy implementation Board (MAREB) on behalf of these organisations.

MAREB facilitates information sharing with the devolved administrations, including Scotland. MAREB members collectively monitor progress towards achieving key measles surveillance indicators and MMR/MMRV programme indicators for the UK.

From 1 January 2026, we brought forward the second dose of MMRV vaccine from three years and four months to a new routine appointment for all children at 18 months of age, based on evidence that this earlier appointment could improve uptake and provide earlier protection against measles. The facilitation of this change included close communication with the devolved administrations to enable information sharing and planning alignment where possible.

The Department continues to support joint efforts to improve measles vaccination uptake and reduce the risk of outbreaks across the UK.

Whilst vaccine delivery is devolved to Scotland, we collaborate closely with our Scottish counterparts to maximise vaccine coverage across the United Kingdom.

Work is continuing to consistently and comprehensively implement the UK Measles and Rubella Elimination Strategy, which is specifically designed for achieving and maintaining measles elimination status, in line with the World Health Organization’s guidance and recommendations.

The Department, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), and NHS England work closely with the devolved administrations and other partners to consistently implement the strategy. As part of this, the UKHSA facilitates the Measles and Rubella Elimination Strategy implementation Board (MAREB) on behalf of these organisations.

MAREB facilitates information sharing with the devolved administrations, including Scotland. MAREB members collectively monitor progress towards achieving key measles surveillance indicators and MMR/MMRV programme indicators for the UK.

From 1 January 2026, we brought forward the second dose of MMRV vaccine from three years and four months to a new routine appointment for all children at 18 months of age, based on evidence that this earlier appointment could improve uptake and provide earlier protection against measles. The facilitation of this change included close communication with the devolved administrations to enable information sharing and planning alignment where possible.

The Department continues to support joint efforts to improve measles vaccination uptake and reduce the risk of outbreaks across the UK.

The Department, the National Health Service, the UK Health Security Agency and local partners are working together at the national, regional and local level to improve uptake of measles vaccination, with an aim of preventing future measles outbreaks.

Actions at the national level, which would therefore apply to Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire, include incentivising general practitioners (GPs) to administer childhood vaccinations with additional £2 supplemental fee for each routine childhood immunisation, and also bringing forward the second dose of measles, mumps, and rubella containing vaccine to 18 months from three years and four months, following evidence that this earlier touchpoint would improve uptake and provide earlier protection against measles. Additionally, a national communication campaigns was launched on 16 February, encouraging parents to get their children vaccinated against diseases including measles.

More locally, the Midlands regional NHS England team is working with Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) to undertake a comprehensive and data‑driven approach to improving measles vaccination uptake. Uptake levels are monitored through a quarterly regional dashboard, and projects are underway to improve data quality so that interventions can be accurately targeted.

To support primary care, the team has produced a regional GP measles vaccination toolkit setting out best‑practice approaches for following up children who miss appointments and for reaching underserved communities. To reach children who miss GP appointments, continued close working is underway with School Age Immunisation Service providers to ensure high‑quality provision in schools.

In complement, Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB is campaigning to promote vaccination to the public as the most effective way of preventing measles via community engagement, paid and organic social media activity, local media releases, and radio interviews.

For example, the ICB is working with community leaders, voluntary and community sector organisations, and wider local partners to cascade key information and campaign materials directly into communities. The aim is to reach families and groups most at risk, supporting efforts to reduce inequalities in immunisation coverage across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, and reduce the risk of outbreaks.

Vaccination is the safest and most effective way to protect children and staff against measles. In England, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) works closely with NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care to improve uptake of the routine childhood immunisation programme, including the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The UKHSA also works closely with the Department for Education and a broad range of stakeholders and partners at the national, regional, and local level to communicate the importance of the MMR vaccine and the risk of measles, across media, social media, and through engagement with local communities.

The UKHSA Health Protection Teams work closely with local partners and schools to respond to measles outbreaks when they arise. Guidance for educational settings on preventing and managing infectious disease like measles is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-protection-in-schools-and-other-childcare-facilities

Information for parents whose children have contracted measles can be found at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/measles/

From 1 January 2026, general practices will offer eligible children a combined vaccine for measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella instead of MMR, as part of the routine infant vaccination schedule. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/introduction-of-a-routine-varicella-mmrv-vaccination-programme

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the National Health Service are working with local partners to provide advice, as well as supporting local communities to be aware of actions they can take to protect against measles, including by getting vaccinated. Vaccination has a direct positive impact on health and wellbeing, protecting individuals as well as their communities. Vaccination induces long-term immunity and thereby provides protection to that individual and reduces transmission to others.

UKHSA health protection teams support cluster and outbreak management. Further advice is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-protection-in-schools-and-other-childcare-facilities/supporting-immunisation-programmes

NHS England continues to deliver national and regional improvement plans. These include activities to strengthen the routine vaccination offer and to address inequalities, supporting measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) catch up vaccination by school age vaccination services in schools and community settings.

The UKHSA, NHS England, and the Department will launch a new ‘always on’ vaccination campaign this summer to drive increased take up of the routine maternal, childhood, and seasonal flu vaccinations. The MMR vaccine is a particular focus, with parents and carers of zero- to five-year-olds and pregnant women being two of the priority audiences for campaign activity.

NHS England has provided detailed information for parents whose children have contracted measles, which is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/measles/

The Department for Education also provides advice to parents, which is available at the following link:

https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2024/03/what-to-do-if-you-think-your-child-has-measles-and-when-to-keep-them-off-school/

Coverage for all routine childhood immunisations, including the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, has fallen in England over the last decade. National uptake of MMR1 in two-year-olds is currently 88.8%, and uptake of MMR1 and MMR2 in five-year-olds is 92.4% and 82.5% respectively. This is below the 95% needed to prevent measles outbreaks as recommended by the World Health Organisation.

Falling vaccination rates have led to an increase of measles cases in England, with 2,911 laboratory confirmed measles cases in 2024. In response, a national MMR catch-up campaign was launched, which contributed to a downward trend in case numbers from mid-July, although small, localised outbreaks continued in some regions.

The UK Health Security Agency, NHS England, and the Department will launch a new ‘always on’ vaccination campaign this summer to drive increased uptake of the routine maternal, childhood, and seasonal flu vaccinations. The MMR vaccine is a particular focus, with parents and carers of zero- to five-year-olds and pregnant women being two of the priority audiences for campaign activity.

NHS England has provided detailed information for parents whose children have contracted measles, which can be found at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/measles/

The Department for Education also provides advice to parents, which is available at the following link:

https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2024/03/what-to-do-if-you-think-your-child-has-measles-and-when-to-keep-them-off-school/

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) declared a national standard incident response for measles on 10 July 2025 to oversee the risk assessment and public health response to the increase of measles cases in England and coordinate the multi-agency input to the response nationally with the aim of limiting further spread. The Department, UKHSA and the National Health Service are already working with local partners to undertake community and stakeholder engagement to raise awareness that measles is circulating, promote the importance of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination and target catch-up efforts at key under vaccinated communities and in a range of settings.

NHS England is working with local health teams, including integrated care boards, to monitor reported measle cases, provide advice and support local communities to be aware of action they can take to protect themselves, including getting vaccinated.

Building on the MMR coverage gains achieved in 2023/24, NHS England continues to deliver national and regional improvement plans that include activities to strengthen the routine vaccination offer and to address inequalities by supporting MMR catch up vaccination by school age vaccination services in schools and community settings, for example, summer ‘catch up’ immunisation clinics are being stood up in some of the areas of England with the lowest MMR uptake including Liverpool, Knowsley, Sefton and St Helens.  In London, childhood vaccination clinics have been stood up in outbreak areas including targeted community clinics, pharmacies offering MMR and we are working with school immunisation services to deliver some MMR catch up in schools once term starts.

Additional steps are being taken which will strengthen efforts to reduce the risk of future measles outbreaks, including bringing forward MMR vaccination for children so they are protected sooner. There are also plans to explore new ways of delivering vaccinations such as greater use of community pharmacies and during at health visits. Further to this, a new national communications and marketing campaign will kick off in August 2025 with a brand-new programme of always on activity to reach parents, pregnant women and multicultural audiences and encourage uptake of MMR as well as other vaccinations.

It is vitally important that everyone takes up the vaccinations they are entitled to, for themselves, their families, and wider society.

The UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) Health Protection Teams continue to work with local partners to respond to measles outbreaks. In England, the UKHSA works closely with NHS England, the Department, and wider health system partners at the national, regional, and local level to respond to and prevent further outbreaks and to improve vaccination uptake for the routine childhood immunisation programme, including the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. Initiatives include improving access to the immunisation programme, using data to better identify under-served individuals and populations, training for healthcare professionals, and communication with the public, stakeholders, and media. Measles guidance is also available, and a range of leaflets and other promotional materials, in several languages, are available in print form and for download from our Health Publications website.

The Department is working alongside its partners to increase vaccine uptake across all childhood vaccination programmes, including the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) programme.

In light of a surge in measles cases in the North West, the UK Health Security Agency and the National Health Service are working with local partners to monitor the situation, provide advice, and support local communities to be aware of action they can take to protect themselves, including getting vaccinated.

Building on the MMR coverage gains achieved in 2023/4, NHS England continues to deliver national and regional improvement plans that include activities to strengthen the routine vaccination offer and to address inequalities by supporting MMR catch up vaccination by school age vaccination services in schools and community settings. For example, summer ‘catch up’ immunisation clinics are being stood in some of the areas with the lowest MMR uptake including Liverpool, Knowsley, Sefton, and St Helens.

National childhood vaccination communication campaigns are planned in August and September 2025 for children returning to school. This will be a re-launch of the 2024 childhood vaccination campaign aimed at increasing the awareness of childhood vaccinations and encouraging parents to book catch-up appointments.

It is vitally important that everyone takes up the vaccinations they are entitled to, for themselves, their families, and wider society.  The MMR vaccine is highly effective, safe, and is the best way to prevent measles.

In 2024, England recorded 2,911 laboratory confirmed measles cases, the highest annual total since 2012. Approximately 60% of these cases were in children under 10 years old, highlighting a long-term decline in routine childhood vaccination rates.

To address this, a national measles, mumps, and rubella catch-up campaign was launched, delivering an extra 180,000 vaccine doses between September 2023 and April 2024.

Measles cases began to decline from mid-July 2024, although small outbreaks continued in some areas. Since 1 January 2025, 420 laboratory confirmed cases have been reported, with a noticeable rise in activity since April, especially in London.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) continues to work with local and national partners, including NHS England and the Department, to manage outbreaks, improve vaccination coverage, and tailor services to under-vaccinated communities.

You can view the latest data on the Measles Dashboard, which is available in an online only format.

The following table shows the UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) routinely published data on laboratory confirmed cases of measles, mumps, rubella, and pertussis, also known as whooping cough, in 2022, 2023, and 2024:

The United Kingdom was declared polio-free by the World Health Organization in 2003. The last case of natural polio infection acquired in the UK was in 1984.

NHS England publishes annual data on Hospital Admitted Patient Care Activity in England. The latest data covers activity from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, during which 428 hospital admissions were reported where measles was recorded as the main reason for admission.

The United Kingdom relies on laboratory testing to confirm or exclude measles infection. This means the admission figures above will include suspected measles cases which are later discarded after testing, and may also not capture some true measles.

A more accurate method for identifying measles-related hospitalisations links laboratory confirmed measles case data to hospital admission data. The UK Health Security Agency undertakes this analysis and plans to publish hospitalisation data in the quarterly Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Health Protection Report. The first inclusion of these figures in the report will be published by the end of June 2025. The current reports are available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/measles-mumps-and-rubella-lab-confirmed-cases-in-england-2024

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) monitors trends in measles epidemiology and publishes a monthly report of laboratory confirmed cases of measles by age, region, and upper-tier local authority, available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/measles-epidemiology-2023

The UKHSA also publishes a quarterly report of laboratory confirmed cases of measles by age, region, vaccination status, and imported vs community acquired cases, available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/measles-mumps-and-rubella-lab-confirmed-cases-in-england-2024

Between 1 January and 10 April 2025, there have been 213 laboratory confirmed measles cases reported in England. The number of laboratory confirmed measles cases by month of symptom onset in 2025 to date are: 89 in January; 67 in February; 54 in March; and three so far in April.

The majority, 128 of 213, or 60%, of these cases were in children aged 10 years old and under, and 34%, or 72 of 213, were in young people and adults aged 15 years old and over. 24%, or 52, of these cases have been in London, 21%, or 44 cases, in the South West, and 17%, or 37 cases, in Yorkshire and Humber. 57 out of the 152 upper-tier local authorities have reported at least one confirmed case with symptom onset since January 2025, with the highest numbers reported in Bristol, at 34 of 213, or 16%, Leeds, at 29 of 213, or 14%, and Hertfordshire at 13 of 213, or 6%.

Data on measles cases by ethnicity is monitored but is not routinely published.

Following a resurgence of measles in late 2023 and 2024, there has been a decline in the number of cases from mid-July 2024, but small, localised outbreaks of measles are still affecting some regions of the United Kingdom. These ongoing outbreaks are largely due to a gradual decline in the uptake of childhood vaccines over the last decade, including the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which offers protection against measles.

As part of ongoing efforts to reduce outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles, and improve uptake across childhood immunisation programmes, the Department is working with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS England. The UKHSA and NHS England are supporting the National Health Service and local authorities to take steps to promote uptake by providing diverse delivery methods, to make getting vaccinated easier. This includes increasing outreach efforts to under-served groups and raising awareness of the dangers of vaccine preventable diseases, such as measles. Paid for marketing campaigns to support uptake of childhood immunisations, including MMR, have been run over the past year, with evaluation showing positive results.

In addition to this, the Department regularly meets with the UKHSA, national and regional NHS colleagues, and devolved administrations, to discuss efforts to reduce measles case numbers. The Department also stays well informed on measles trends, with the UKHSA continuing to closely monitor cases across the UK.

The Department is working alongside its partners to increase vaccine uptake and coverage across all childhood vaccination programmes, including the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) programme.

The National Health Service and general practices (GPs) have been sending reminders to the families of children who are not fully vaccinated, with GPs providing catch-up doses for any missed vaccinations.

NHS England works with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and local health partners and communities to understand the needs of their populations, and to tailor immunisation programmes to meet the needs of under-vaccinated communities.

Regional outbreaks of measles and overall increases in cases since autumn 2023 led to a renewed focus on MMR coverage and targeted catch-up activity, including an NHS campaign which ran from November 2023 until April 2024 and resulted in over 180,000 additional doses given. The UKHSA and NHS England ran a second wave of England-wide childhood immunisation campaigns targeted towards parents and carers of children in autumn 2024. The campaign reminded parents of the risks to their children due to missing out on protection against the serious diseases that are re-emerging in the country, with an urgent call to action to catch up on missed vaccinations.

It is vitally important that everyone takes up the vaccinations they are entitled to, for themselves, their families, and wider society. The MMR vaccine is highly effective, safe, and is the best way to prevent measles.

In the UK, an appropriate test to confirm or discard cases is essential. As per the guidelines, all suspected measles cases reported to Health Protection Teams are sent an oral fluid kit for testing at the Virus Reference Department at UKHSA Colindale.

The UK Health Security Agency publishes national clinical and public health guidelines for the management of all suspected measles cases at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-measles-guidelines

High quality surveillance is a fundamental component of the UK measles and rubella elimination strategy, which can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/measles-and-rubella-elimination-uk-strategy

Measles is a notifiable disease and healthcare professionals are legally required to report all suspected cases to their local Health Protection Team.