News

New data from Public Health England reveals 301 new measles cases between April and June 2019. RCPCH's immunisation expert responds.

The Prime Minister has today called for urgent action to boost the number of children and young people receiving life-saving vaccinations. This comes as it is revealed that the UK has lost its "measles-free" status with the WHO, three years after it had eliminated the virus.

Professor Helen Bedford says "England has not escaped the recent increase in cases", and urges parents to vaccinate their children to protect them from "a nasty disease which could result in life changing complications or even death".

The RCPCH welcomes the Government's commitment to protect children online but, to inform future policy and public advice, says it must go further to ensure researchers have access to high quality data.

RCPCH's immunisation expert Dr David Elliman says "compulsion may work in some countries, but it is not for us".

The End Child Poverty coalition has released new data today which show that inequalities are widening. From the data, they propose that child poverty is becoming the "new normal" in parts of Britain. Professor Russell Viner, President of the RCPCH responds.