A new campaign, Why We Get Vaccinated, launches today to increase vaccination rates across London. The campaign has been developed alongside communities with low vaccinations numbers, encouraging people to have open conversations about the importance of vaccines. Why We Get Vaccinated asks Londoners to “join the conversation and find out more.”
London has some of the lowest vaccination rates in the UK. Recent data shows a continuing decline with no childhood vaccines, such as MMR, meeting the 95% target set by the World Health Organisation in order to prevent the spread of disease across the population. For example, just 72% of children in London have had two doses of MMR by age 5, the lowest of any region and significantly below England at 84%. Over a third of London boroughs are even further below with uptake rates below 70%.
Why We Get Vaccinated answers common questions and concerns, while encouraging people to find out more about vaccines. Rather than pushing people in London to act immediately, the campaign hopes to debunk myths and allow people to have the full information to make the right choice for themselves and their families
The campaign, developed by London Councils, UK Health Security, ADPH London and the NHS, provides flexible resources for local authorities, healthcare providers and community organisations, to complement existing vaccination campaigns. It features residents, healthcare professionals and community leaders across the capital, highlighting real questions from real people.
Cllr Kaya Comer-Schwarz, London Councils’ Executive Member for Health, said:
“Vaccination is a simple way to protect our families and our communities from disease and keep them well and out of hospital. We recognise that people need help and support to understand the reasons why vaccinations are so important. Armed with that understanding they can then take the steps they need to ensure their families are vaccinated and fully protected.
“I welcome the Why We Get Vaccinated campaign and the fact that it has been developed in partnership with communities across London from Bow to Brent. It has the potential to play a small but important role in improving London’s vaccination rates and protecting our residents.”
