Childhood vaccination uptake across Yorkshire has fallen sharply, with Bradford recording one of the lowest rates in England, raising fresh warnings from health authorities about the risk of preventable disease outbreaks.
According to NHS data, the proportion of two-year-olds in Yorkshire receiving their first vaccine dose dropped from 92.8% in 2018–19 to just 90.1% in 2023–24. Health experts stress that at least 95% coverage is required to prevent outbreaks of serious viruses such as measles.
Bradford has seen one of the steepest declines, with overall vaccination rates falling to 85.6% over five years. Leeds has also slipped to 87.3%, while Barnsley (94.4%), Wakefield (93.5%) and Rotherham (93.3%) have managed to remain above 93%.
Andrew Taylor, interim director of public health at Bradford Council, acknowledged the challenge and partly attributed the fall to misinformation. He said the council was working hard to reverse the trend but warned that vaccine hesitancy was growing. He criticised public figures who undermine vaccine safety, stating that anyone promoting such views “is actually putting the public at risk”.
Local outreach clinics are being used to raise uptake, particularly in Keighley, where the Modality GP Partnership has been running community-based sessions. Parents attending the clinics have spoken out against misinformation, urging others to rely on evidence-based information rather than social media rumours.
One parent, Muhammad Jawad, who brought his two-month-old son for vaccination, said he had “no hesitations or concerns” and trusted the process. Another parent, Laura Pickles, stressed the importance of protecting children, warning that negative messaging can mislead families.
Clinicians leading these efforts highlight the success of community-focused approaches. Dr Zoya Hussain from the Modality group said vaccination rates in parts of Keighley have seen a dramatic turnaround, rising from the low 40s to over 90% — the highest in 20 years. She credited direct engagement with parents and the ability to dispel fears with clear, evidence-based information.
However, health leaders remain concerned about the wider impact of falling vaccination rates. Dr Jackie Craven, vaccine lead for Modality, warned that reduced flu vaccination uptake last year directly contributed to higher GP consultations, hospital admissions, intensive care cases and flu-related deaths.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also issued an urgent warning for families to catch up on missed childhood vaccinations. Since January, there have been 674 confirmed cases of measles across England, including 37 in Yorkshire and the Humber. The agency said areas with the lowest vaccination rates “are of particular concern”.
The figures underline the scale of the challenge facing local councils and the NHS. Without action to counter misinformation and raise uptake, health authorities warn the UK risks seeing a resurgence of diseases once under control.
