The government has issued a chilling warning after it revealed vaccination rates in year 9 children have plunged. The new alert was issued today (April 24) as it published data showing that just 69 per cent of youngsters aged 13-14 have had the Td/IPV and MenACWY vaccines.
This means that 31 per cent have weak protection - with the potentially fatal diseases tetanus, diphtheria, meningitis and polio on the rise. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that uptake of the adolescent vaccines offered to 13 and 14 year olds who were in school year 9 during the 2021 to 2022 academic year has fallen
Pre pandemic the levels of vaccination uptake for the boosters was around 88 per cent, meaning there has been a steep plunge in rates. The government warned: "These rare but serious diseases can cause life-threatening illness leading to hospitalisation, permanent disability and even death."
