The focus of the annual World Health Organisation campaign this year is 'immunisations for all is humanly possible’ – with the aim of ensuring even more children and young people, adults and the wider community are protected from preventable diseases.
Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, said: “Vaccination is one of the greatest public health interventions, both saving lives and promoting good health.
“Immunisation protects not only the individual but also the population from preventable diseases which can cause serious illness as well as death.
“Vaccines cannot give the disease they are designed to prevent and, if not enough people are vaccinated, diseases that have become uncommon like whooping cough, polio and measles can quickly re-emerge.
"It's important that vaccines are given when they are due for the best protection, but if you or your child has missed a vaccine, contact your GP to catch up."
The UK's national immunisation programme starts from 2 months into old age and provides protection against a range of vaccine preventable infections including diphtheria, haemophilus influenzae type b, hepatitis B, HPV, flu, measles, meningococcal disease, mumps, whooping cough, pneumococcal disease, polio, rotavirus, RSV, rubella, shingles and tetanus.
Other vaccines are available for those with complex health needs or those who are more at risk. More information on the vaccination schedule can be found at NHS | Vaccinations, which also includes facts and dispels myths about vaccination.
If your child has missed their diphtheria, tetanus and polio teenage booster vaccination, the HPV (human papilloma virus) vaccination or the meningococcal (Men ACWY) vaccination in school or if your child is home educated and has not received these vaccinations when they are due, Vaccination UK will be holding a catch up clinic on Bank Holiday Monday 26 May from 10am to 2pm at Bizspace, Planetary Road WV13 3SW. To make an appointment, please call 01902 200077.
Organised by the World Health Organisation, World Immunisation Week aims to highlight the collective action needed to protect people from vaccine preventable diseases. It aims to catch up the millions of children globally who missed out on vaccines during the Covid-19 pandemic and restore essential immunisation coverage to at least 2019 levels so that more children, adults and communities are protected from vaccine preventable diseases, allowing them to live happier, healthier lives.
World Immunisation Week continues until Wednesday (30 April). For more information, please visit World Immunization Week 2025.
