Parents and carers are being urged to bring their children forward for vital pre-school vaccines this World Immunisation Week.

Data shows that around one in 10 children are unvaccinated and unprotected against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) by the time they start school in Lancashire and South Cumbria.

The latest published data for October to December 2022 shows that uptake of both doses of the vaccine by the age of five was below 90 per cent in more than half of local authorities in Lancashire – although uptake in Cumbria was the highest in the North West (93.3 per cent).

Uptake of the 6-in-1 vaccination, which includes diphtheria, hepatitis B, Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b), polio, tetanus and whooping cough (pertussis) in Lancashire and South Cumbria is just short of the national average at 91.1 per cent.

Uptake of rotavirus vaccine, which can only be given to babies up to 15 weeks old to protect them from the most common cause of gastroenteritis, is 88 per cent in the region, compared with a national average of 89.3 per cent.

At least 95 per cent uptake of the MMR vaccine is needed to provide ‘herd immunity’ – the point at which the population is protected from a disease.

If parents and carers are unsure if their child is up to date with vaccinations, they can check their Red Book (personal child health record) or speak to their GP surgery.