The Local Government Association has warned that England's declining childhood vaccination rates will not be reversed unless councils are given greater authority and clearer responsibilities ahead of major NHS commissioning changes in 2027.
The warning comes as measles cases continue to rise across England, with outbreaks reported in London and the West Midlands since April 2025. Earlier this year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed that the UK had lost its measles elimination status following an increase in cases.
Vaccination coverage for the childhood MMRV vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox, now stands at below 85%, significantly short of the WHO's 95% target needed to prevent outbreaks.
The LGA says vaccine uptake varies dramatically across the country. First-dose coverage differs by more than 38 percentage points between local authorities, while there is a 15 percentage point gap between the most and least deprived communities.
The challenge extends far beyond measles. Uptake of routine childhood vaccinations that protect against serious illnesses including pneumonia, meningitis, polio and tetanus has also declined. Since 2020/21, no routine childhood vaccination programme in England has achieved the WHO's recommended coverage target.
Responsibility for immunisation commissioning is set to transfer from NHS England to Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) in April 2027. The LGA believes the transition risks creating uncertainty around local accountability and leadership for vaccination programmes.
At present, vaccination responsibilities are shared between NHS England, the UK Health Security Agency, Integrated Care Boards and local councils.
The association argues that reversing declining vaccination rates will require sustained action over many years, supported by strong local leadership, improved data sharing and closer collaboration between councils and ICBs.
According to the LGA, councils are uniquely positioned to support vaccine uptake because of their established relationships with local communities, democratic accountability and ability to bring partners together. This local influence, it says, cannot be replicated by national or regional commissioners.
Alongside the publication of a new vaccination guide for councils, the LGA is calling on the Government to:
- Introduce a single named, accountable lead for vaccinations in every local area.
- Ensure Directors of Public Health have access to real-time, ward-level vaccination data.
- Provide dedicated funding for councils' vaccine outreach and community engagement work.
- Retain local authority representation on Integrated Care Boards.
Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor MBE, Chair of the LGA's Health and Wellbeing Committee, said:
“England is seeing a concerning rise in measles cases while childhood vaccination rates fall across the board.
“Measles is entirely preventable. The fact that it continues to spread reflects a failure to ensure vaccines are accessible, particularly in some of our most deprived communities. This must be addressed as a matter of urgency.
“Councils will continue to provide trusted information to families and support communities that have concerns, so more children are protected.
“But falling childhood vaccination rates will not be reversed unless council Directors of Public Health have the data, the partnerships and the authority they need to meet their statutory duty and protect their populations.
"It must be clear who has overall oversight and accountability for vaccination in each local area. The 2027 commissioning transition must not leave councils out of the picture at precisely the moment local leadership is most needed."
The LGA believes that giving councils greater influence over vaccination planning and delivery, combined with improved access to data and stronger local accountability, will be crucial if England is to restore vaccination coverage and prevent further outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Image credit: iStock
