Annual GP vaccination catch-up campaign to focus on measles

This year’s national vaccination catch-up campaign will focus on measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMR/V), NHS England has said.

GPs are contractually required to participate in the campaign, which NHS England said was prompted by recent measles outbreaks and the removal of England’s elimination status.

Two children have died this year from measles amidst ongoing outbreaks, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said last week.

The catch-up campaign will run from June 2026 to March 2027 and will require GP practices to undertake local call and recall for eligible individuals aged 12 months to less than 6 years who are missing 1 or 2 doses of MMR/V.

Practices are also asked to support requests for vaccination of individuals aged 6 years up to and including 11 years.

In addition, a selective catch-up of varicella vaccination was agreed as part of the MMRV rollout in January. This is for eligible individuals who have not yet had a chickenpox infection or 2 doses of varicella vaccination and will run from Sunday 1 November 2026 to Friday 31 March 2028.

GP practices will receive an item of service payment of £12.06 for each vaccination administered, NHS England said, adding that additional funding can also be earned via QOF indicators VI002 and VI003.

Last year’s catch-up campaign, which ran between September and March, focused on HPV vaccinations in under-25s.

In full: Requirements of MMR/V catch-up campaign

Leadership and oversight

Ensure the named practice immunisation lead is engaged and oversees participation in the catch-up campaign, including informing the local commissioner of the outcome of the campaign.

Applying contractual standards

Apply vaccination and immunisation core contractual standards to the planning and delivery of the MMR/V catch-up campaign (see part 9A of the General Medical Service Regulations and guidance).

Proactive checks

Undertake the following proactive, systematic checks to ensure all records are accurate:
- Check patient paper records and Electronic Patient Record.
- If necessary, correct computerised record to ensure accurate MMR/V vaccination status is recorded.
- Confirm that the patient is still in the area – if they are not, remove them from the list and inform the local Child Health Information Service (CHIS).

Inviting eligible patients

Actively invite all those missing 1 or both doses of MMR/V, aged 12 months to less than 6 years, to a vaccination clinic held in the practice or to book an appointment.
Priority should be given to patients missing both doses, as this is where most clinical value is gained.
A minimum of 3 invitations per patient should be sent as follows:
- 1st invitation to offer an appointment.
- 2nd invitation to offer an appointment, confirm receipt or check if the parent or guardian already has a record of vaccination; for example, in the Personal Child Health Record.
- 3rd invitation should be a practice healthcare professional discussion with the parent or guardian, either face-to-face or by telephone. Practices can use UKHSA resources in call and recall discussions to support informed choice and improved uptake and coverage. At this point, also check for and offer any other missing childhood immunisations.

Follow-up, flexibility and opportunistic vaccination

Consider options to offer vaccinations more flexibly to the eligible cohort.
Ensure that parents/guardians of who need a second dose are invited and attend, with invitation sent to their parents and guardians, using a minimum of 3 invitations.
Continue to follow up, recall and update computerised records for patients who do not respond or fail to attend scheduled clinics or appointments, and offer opportunistically when eligible children present.
If there is no response achieved by following the above process, practices must:
- notify school nursing service or the school-aged immunisation provider to follow up at school
- inform local commissioning team of the outcome of the campaign
- implement a Make Every Contact Count (MECC) approach for review of MMR/V vaccination status and administration of MMR/V vaccine; every point of patient contact (for example, booking, attending the practice, text and written communications) should promote a review of MMR/V vaccination status and, if required, booking

Patient record review and data quality

Review and update patient record to ensure accuracy:
- Check registered populations, vaccine eligibility and status, investigate any discrepancies and correct the record accordingly.
- Check the CHIS report of unvaccinated children, investigate any discrepancies and correct the record accordingly.
- Update scanned vaccination records that have not been coded to the patient record, using the correct coding and available template.
- Confirm that the patient is still in the area – if they are not, remove them from the list and inform the local CHIS.
- Ensure that there are up-to-date phone numbers, email addresses and addresses for patients who are eligible for vaccination, including preferred contact methods and whether there are additional literacy issues or language needs.

For children aged 6 to 11 years only

Practices must have a process in place to respond to patients aged 6 to 11 who contact the practice following the national MMR invite; this should include:
- checking vaccination status (including validity of doses in line with age and interval requirements)
- where clinically appropriate, arranging vaccination or updating patient records following review of vaccination history

Source: NHS England