Vaccines are the most important thing we can do to protect ourselves and our children against ill health now and in the future. Outbreaks of serious infectious diseases are more likely than ever, with declining rates of immunisation before children start school.
The Improving Immunisation Uptake Team works in partnership with GP practices across Kent and Medway to help increase vaccination rates. The team supports family hubs and early years settings to be able to share knowledge and build staff confidence to discuss vaccines with parents and carers as well.
How can general practices can support the immunisation programme?
GPs play a vital role in improving childhood vaccination rates. Here are practical ways your team can help:
- Set up a strong call and recall system to invite children for their immunisations.
- Offer flexible appointment times to support working parents and carers.
- Send reminders to parents/carers when immunisation appointments are due.
- Make every contact count by offering vaccinations opportunistically.
- Keep your practice website updated with information about childhood immunisations with trusted NHS resources.
- Promote positive vaccine messages on your social media channels.
- Provide space for open conversations with vaccine-hesitant parents/carers, ideally with a clinician.
- Signpost to reliable sources of vaccine information to help parents make informed decisions.
- Display leaflets and posters about immunisations in multiple languages, tailored to your local community.
- Include immunisation updates as a regular item on practice meeting agendas.
- Engage with underserved groups in your community to make sure there is equitable access.
Useful resources
- For more information on the vaccines offered and why they’re important, visit NHS vaccinations and when to have them and why vaccination is important and the safest way to protect yourself.
- The NHS vaccination strategy brings together all vaccination programmes.
- The Managing Childhood Immunisation Clinics is the best practice resource providing a practical checklist to support general practice nurses in managing a childhood vaccine and immunisation clinic.
- You can find changes to the routine childhood immunisation programme in 2025 and 2026 and visit the Childhood schedule changes from 1 July 2025: information for healthcare practitioners to support healthcare professionals clinical practice
- You can compare international versus the UK vaccination schedules to view which vaccines those moving to England have already received.
Help parents and carers access trusted information about childhood vaccinations by adding the following resources to your practice website:
- Promote the benefits of vaccines and their role in protecting children and communities with Why vaccination is important and the safest way to protect yourself.
- Oxford Vaccine Knowledge Project – A reliable source answering common questions parents/carers may ask during appointments.
- The Umbrella of Protection: Vaccination as a Community Shield explains the importance of herd immunity to parents/carers.
- Routine immunisation schedule – Share the latest national schedule so families know what to expect at each stage.
- Help parents prepare for appointments and care for their child after vaccination.
- You could even create your own video to share with your parents/carers like one of the nurses at Maritime Health to improve vaccination rates Measles - why it’s important to get vaccinated.
Make it easier for parents and carers to access trusted information and support by using the following resources in your practice:
- Order printed resources in multiple languages for your waiting room from Health Publications.
- Use the Childhood immunisation eligibility calculator to check which vaccines are due for a child attending an appointment.
- Stay informed by subscribing to the UK vaccine update for the latest news on vaccines, policies and procedures.
Training
- Learn how to navigate sensitive conversations with vaccine-hesitant parents and carers using evidence-based strategies.
- The 'Let's Talk About Vaccines' training is open to all administrative and clinical staff in general practice. It helps build confidence in discussing vaccines with parents and carers and equips you with practical tools to support uptake.
- The Level 2 award in Encouraging Vaccination Uptake course teaches how to promote the importance of vaccination programmes and apply behaviour change models to support informed decision-making.
- Explore common attitudes around vaccine hesitancy with the JITSUVAX project.
How family hubs and early years settings can support the immunisation programme
- Signpost parents and carers to trusted sources of vaccine information (see links above).
- Create a vaccination display board in your waiting area with up-to-date materials, including leaflets in multiple languages tailored to your local community.
- Encourage parents/carers to speak with healthcare professionals, such as their GP or health visitor, if they have questions or concerns about vaccines.
- Remind parents of children starting nursery, preschool, or school to check their child’s immunisation status and make sure these are up to date.
- Promote positive messages about vaccination on your website and social media channels to help build trust and awareness.