Company Chemists’ Association chief executive Malcolm Harrison has urged the government to involve community pharmacies in improving the MMRV vaccination coverage, in the wake of the recent outbreak of measles in London and in some parts of the Midlands.
“Community pharmacies are ready to act now to boost MMRV uptake and stop measles spreading further. Pharmacies offer fast, convenient access to catch-up vaccinations close to home.
"The North West England pilot showed this approach works. Children aged 5-11 safely received missed MMR doses in community pharmacies, families responded positively, and uptake improved in areas where coverage had fallen behind," he said.
Harrison noted that pharmacies have been involved in providing millions of flu and Covid vaccinations for several years, and they have the ability to meet the patient demand.
"With more pharmacies in more deprived communities, highly trained teams skilled in administering vaccines and addressing concerns, pharmacies are well placed to reach those most at risk, build vaccine confidence and tackle vaccine hesitancy.
"To support the national vaccination strategy, the government should make pharmacy-based MMRV vaccination a routine part of the NHS programme, giving the public greater choice while also helping prevent future outbreaks.
"The CCA launched the Pharmacy Vaccinations Development Group (PVDG) two years ago to explore how community pharmacy could play a larger role in administering a whole range of NHS vaccines.”
According to government figures, there have been 83 laboratory-confirmed measles cases in the country.
London accounted for the highest proportion of these cases (60), with Enfield and Haringey reporting 50 and 10 cases respectively.
Measles is highly contagious, and the worst hit are unvaccinated children under the age of 10.
Health experts have blamed it on the falling proportion of children having the MMR vaccine in recent years.
In the year 2024 to 2025, the average measles vaccination rate in England was 83.7 percent, but in London it was 69.6 percent, and it was even lower at Enfield (64.3 percent).
Experts note that London's figure is on par with those of Afghanistan (62 percent) and Malawi (69.3 percent).
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended 95 percent MMR vaccination coverage to prevent measles outbreaks.
In January, the WHO stripped Britain of its status as a measles-free country.
The government recently launched ‘Stay Strong, Get Vaccinated’ campaign to encourage parents to ensure their children receive their routine childhood immunisations.
Parents are also encouraged not only to ensure their children are fully up to date, but also to help raise awareness among family members, friends, and their wider communities about the importance of routine immunisation.
