Birmingham encourages vaccine uptake to curb measles spread

Birmingham’s outreach, including targeted phone calls and community campaigns, helped deliver about 7,000 extra MMR vaccinations in 2024; overall coverage fell back in 2025 and remains below the 95% level for herd immunity.

Birmingham has renewed vaccination outreach as measles cases rise, with most infections occurring among young children. NHS teams and local councils are running targeted phone calls, community engagement and advertising to reach families who missed MMR vaccinations. A surge in late 2023 prompted a rapid response that included making thousands of calls to parents and patients up to age 25. That campaign and later work aimed to address barriers such as language, misinformation and practical access. Key details: - During the 2023 surge, staff made about 13,000 calls in three months, and those conversations persuaded nearly 1,000 previously hesitant parents and young people to accept vaccination. - Across 2024, roughly 7,000 additional MMR vaccinations were recorded in Birmingham, with total jabs about a fifth higher than the previous year. - Vaccination coverage dropped back in 2025 to levels below the 95% threshold commonly cited for herd immunity. - NHS officials say the call-and-recall model is effective but not a complete solution, and current funding for the calling system runs until the end of the financial year in March. Summary: The outreach work raised short-term uptake but overall coverage remains below the level usually associated with herd protection, leaving the city vulnerable to further outbreaks. Funding for the current phone programme is scheduled to end at the close of the financial year, and its long-term status is undetermined at this time.