Parents and carers urged to vaccinate children

Parents are being asked to check children's records and catch up on jabs

Health leaders in Shropshire have said there is "more to do" to protect children against serious illness, days before the new school year starts.

Nationally, almost 20% of children starting primary school are not fully protected against diseases including measles, mumps and rubella, polio, whooping cough, tetanus and diphtheria, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data has shown.

The UKHSA and NHS England are asking parents to check their children's records and catch up on any missed vaccinations with their GP.

Rachel Robinson, executive director for public health at NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, said teams had been working hard to improve vaccination rates.

Ms Robinson said vaccination rates were rising in Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin and NHS teams had been working to make vaccines more accessible.

Measures included offering flexible clinic times, pop-up sessions in community settings and other outreach activities.

'Serious diseases'

Families had already been supported with clear and trusted information, she added.

She said vaccine reminders had been sent directly to parents and awareness sessions were also held in education and community settings.

Dr Mary Ramsay, director of immunisation at UKHSA, said: "Too many children will not be fully protected and safe when starting school and are at risk of serious diseases."

Health Minister Stephen Kinnock said many of those diseases could lead to "serious illnesses" and yet were "preventable".

It comes as a chickenpox vaccination becomes available to children across England from January in a move that the government has said will protect about half a million children each year.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.