Measles Cases

Lord Bethell Excerpts

Monday 22nd January 2024 Lords Chamber

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

My Lords, the vaccination rate in the West Midlands is below the national average but not as low as in London. In London it is 75% and in the West Midlands it is 80%, so it not just a case of the West Midlands. There are many reasons why: large concentrations of social deprivation, transient communities and misinformation bring that all to a head, and to a very low and unacceptable uptake in vaccination.

[Lord Bethell (Con)]

My Lords, it is not just the rate for MMR that has fallen behind but that for the majority of childhood vaccines recommended by the WHO. Last year, the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee published a report with a large number of recommendations on how to catch up on those important vaccinations, including the deployment of retired clinicians and nurses to increase the capacity. Those recommendations have been largely ignored. Will my noble friend please advise me whether the Government are inclined to relook at that important report and implement some of its helpful suggestions?

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

I am grateful to my noble friend for his helpful suggestions. I do not have an answer to his question here and now but I will certainly feed it back to the department.