NIHR ARC NWL Child Population Health Theme Lead, Professor Sonia Saxena, led research that found of 752 health visitors surveyed by the Institute of Health Visiting in May 2020, over 60% reported contact with families who had considered cancelling or postponing their child’s vaccinations (Institute of Health Visiting, personal communication).
Parents have expressed concerns about overburdening the NHS and fear of exposure to COVID-19 when attending for vaccination.
Professor Saxena said: “Vaccinations are more crucial than ever – particularly as we emerge from lockdown and children begin to return to school and childcare settings. Vaccines are a priority for GP surgeries, yet we are seeing this messaging has been lost. Instead, the dominant message is everyone should stay at home and avoid burdening the NHS. We need to make clear GP surgeries are open – and that vaccines can be delivered safely to children.”