The West Northamptonshire Council is hosting a walk-in vaccination clinic today, 31 March 2026, to provide school-aged children in Years 8 to 13 with easier access to vital immunisations. Families can attend the clinic without an appointment to receive vaccinations for diphtheria, tetanus, polio, meningitis ACWY, human papillomavirus (HPV), and measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR).
This local effort comes as health officials work to address concerns regarding vaccination rates across the region. According to local representatives, some areas of Northampton have seen uptake as low as 50 percent, which is significantly below the 95 percent threshold needed to maintain community protection and well under the national average of 84 percent.
The urgency for improved coverage follows an announcement from the UK Health Security Agency that the UK lost its measles elimination status in January 2026. This change followed more than 2,900 confirmed cases of measles across England in 2024, with 959 cases recorded in 2025 and 130 cases in the first two months of 2026. To help parents navigate these concerns, the government recently launched the Stay Strong, Get Vaccinated campaign in partnership with NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to provide clear information on immunisation.
Today marks the conclusion of a national catch-up campaign for human papillomavirus vaccinations that has been running since July 2025 for individuals aged 16 to 24. Furthermore, the local council continues to work alongside school-aged immunisation teams, youth organisations, and the University of Northampton to ensure consistent health information reaches families throughout the community.
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