Childhood vaccinations are life savers

Vaccinations save lives – that’s the message from NHS teams in Lincolnshire during World Immunisation Week 2026 (24–30 April).

The county’s Integrated Care Board (ICB) is reminding parents that routine childhood vaccinations are vital in protecting children, families and the wider community from serious, preventable diseases.

The NHS childhood immunisation programme offers strong, well-tested protection against illnesses that can lead to long-term health problems, hospital stays, and in some cases, death. When more children receive their vaccines on time, communities reduce the risk of outbreaks and better protect those who cannot be vaccinated.

Recent events have reinforced this message” “We have seen outbreaks of diseases such as measles in parts of the UK,” explained Steph Hart, Assistant Locality Lead for the Vaccination Programme.

“This underlines the importance of making sure children are fully up to date with their vaccinations, including the MMRV vaccine and other routine immunisations.”

The childhood immunisation schedule is designed to protect children from birth through adolescence. It covers a wide range of serious diseases and continues to evolve as new protections become available.

Key vaccinations include:

• MMRV vaccine – protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox, all highly infectious and potentially serious
• 6-in-1 vaccine – given in early childhood to guard against diphtheria, hepatitis, tetanus, whooping cough, polio and meningitis/hib (type b)
• HPV vaccine – offered from Year 8, helping prevent cancers linked to the human papillomavirus, including cervical and some head and neck cancers

All routine vaccinations are provided free of charge through the NHS. Families can access them via GP practices, school-based programmes, and community health services.

Steph advises parents and guardians to check their child’s ‘red book’ or contact their GP if they are unsure about vaccination status. If a child has missed a vaccine, catch-up appointments are available.

World Immunisation Week serves as a global prompt to recognise the life-saving impact of vaccines. It highlights how immunisation protects people of all ages while helping to keep health systems resilient.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to attend scheduled appointments, respond promptly to school vaccination requests, and seek guidance from trusted NHS sources whenever questions arise.

“Vaccination remains one of the most effective public health measures we have,” Steph adds. “When children receive their vaccines on time, we protect them from serious illness and reduce the spread of disease across our communities.”

Reliable advice on childhood vaccinations is available through NHS Lincolnshire ICB’s Grab a Jab website, the national NHS website, GP practices, and local health teams.