What’s your vaccine status?

Today marks the beginning of World Immunisation Week (24-30 April 2025) and the NHS in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent is asking ‘what’s your vaccine status?’ – encouraging you to check if you and your family is up to date with routine vaccinations.  

In the last 50 years, vaccines have saved almost 154 million lives worldwide – that is 6 people every minute. Nearly 94 million of the lives have been saved as a result of vaccines protecting against measles.

Since vaccines were introduced in the UK, diseases like polio, smallpox and tetanus that used to kill and disable millions of people are either gone or rarely seen.

However, over the past decade, we have seen fewer people come forward for their routine NHS vaccines. England no longer has the levels of population immunity recommended by the World Health Organization that is needed to prevent outbreaks of deadly diseases.

Matthew Missen, Consultant Public Health at NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care System (ICS) said: “In today’s interconnected world, an outbreak anywhere can become a threat to everywhere. By getting vaccinated, you are not only protecting yourself but also saving lives, preventing diseases such as measles and flu spreading and causing outbreaks that can be deadly to people with weaker immune systems.

“We’re asking people to check whether they and their families are up to date with routine NHS vaccinations including vaccines for babies and children like MMR and 6 in1 vaccine, HPV and MenACWY vaccine in schools and others adults may be eligible for such as Flu, Pertussis or Shingles vaccines. You can see if you are eligible by visiting the NHS website www.nhs.uk/vaccinations. If you think you, your child or a family member are missing a vaccine or are eligible for one, you can contact your GP practice and ask them to review you vaccination status and advice on missed vaccines.”

“World Immunisation Week is a brilliant opportunity to highlight the importance of vaccines – one of humanity’s greatest achievements. Getting vaccinated doesn’t just protect you, it protects babies, young children and those with weakened immune systems who are at increased risk.