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 Agency, 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.” Riyadul Karim, Co-Chair of the London Bangladeshi Health Partnership said: "Seeing people like me, from my own community, sharing their experiences makes a huge difference. It’s not just about getting vaccinated – it’s about understanding why it matters and feeling confident in that choice." Professor Kevin Fenton, Regional Director of Public Health, NHS England London Region, said: “Vaccinations save lives, and it's vital that everyone in our communities has the information and confidence they need to make an informed decision. “The Why We Get Vaccinated campaign is a powerful step towards building confidence and breaking down barriers. By working together with local voices, we can improve vaccination uptake and protect the health of our communities.” Dr Yvonne Young, London Regional Deputy Director, UKHSA London Region, said: “London has persistently lower vaccination uptake than other regions in England. This means lots of people in our communities are more vulnerable to serious infections such as measles and whooping cough, which have unfortunately been on the rise recently. “The Why We Get Vaccinated campaign has been created to help people in London understand why vaccines are important to them and their families and better understand how vaccines work and the benefits to their health. By encouraging people to have conversations with health professionals and the opportunity to have their questions answered, we aim to arm people with the knowledge they need to be confident in their decisions about vaccination.” Kirsten Watters, DPH Camden, Vice Chair of ADPH London and ADPH London Immunisations Lead said: “Vaccination is the most important thing we can do to protect ourselves, our families and communities from preventable diseases. The return of diseases such as measles and whooping cough shows we need a different approach to getting messages about the benefits of vaccination across. “By focusing on real stories and shared experiences, Why We Get Vaccinated will encourage more conversations and understanding of how vaccination can protect us and our loved ones. We need to keep serious but preventable diseases like measles and whooping cough in the past.” ENDS
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