In a decisive move to combat the resurgence of life-threatening diseases, the UK government has announced additional support for General Practitioners (GPs) aimed at protecting children, particularly in areas with low vaccination rates. This strategic shift is part of the updated GP contract for 2026/27, set to be unveiled this week, which includes enhanced measures to fortify vaccination delivery where it is most needed.
The changes are designed to reduce the risk and number of outbreaks, such as the current situation in Enfield, where 50 confirmed cases of measles have led to several children being hospitalized. By empowering GPs to work closely with families of unvaccinated children, the initiative seeks to shield these children and others from preventable illnesses.
Addressing the Vaccination Gap
Under the existing system, GP practices that achieve high vaccination rates receive additional incentive payments. However, practices in communities with lower vaccination rates, which require the most assistance, often miss out on these incentives despite making significant progress in improving their vaccination rates year-on-year.
This development follows the UK’s loss of its World Health Organization (WHO) measles elimination status, after over 2,900 cases were confirmed in England in 2024, marking the highest levels recorded in decades. Current childhood vaccination rates fall well below the 95% WHO uptake target necessary to prevent measles outbreaks and continue to decline.
New Incentives and Resources
The forthcoming GP contract aims to rectify this by providing improvement incentives that acknowledge progress made by practices. These additional resources will be reinvested in outreach efforts and follow-up with families of unvaccinated children. Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, emphasized the importance of vaccinations, stating:
“Vaccinations are safe and they save lives. The return of diseases we thought we’d defeated, with children in hospital as a result, is entirely preventable. With our investment and modernisation in general practice, GPs will be backed to protect children and prevent the risk of further outbreaks like we’ve seen in Enfield.”
Streeting further highlighted the role of improvement payments in providing GPs with the necessary resources to assist parents in protecting their children and reducing health inequalities.
Expanding Vaccination Programs
The updated contract will also align childhood vaccination incentives with the latest national vaccine schedule. Notably, the NHS’s vaccination program was expanded on January 1 to include chickenpox (varicella) for the first time, aiming to protect hundreds of thousands of young children from serious illness. GP practices have started offering a combined MMRV vaccine at 12 and 18 months of age, adding chickenpox to the protections against measles, mumps, and rubella.
Additionally, GP quality indicators will be updated to include the delivery of the MMRV vaccine, simplifying processes for practices and ensuring fair compensation as the MMRV rollout progresses.
Broader Benefits and Future Steps
Children are not the only beneficiaries of the revised GP contract. Primary Care Networks will be tasked with identifying care home residents with overdue or outstanding routine vaccinations. The contract will also provide greater flexibility in how practices collaborate to deliver flu and COVID-19 vaccines, thereby increasing uptake in high-risk populations.
Furthermore, the GP contract for 2026/27 will extend the RSV vaccination program to all adults aged 80 and over and all residents in care homes for older adults, in addition to existing cohorts, starting in April. GP practices will be required to offer the RSV vaccination to eligible patients as an essential service.
In a bid to overcome barriers to vaccination, a new £2 million pilot will see health visitors reaching out to families facing challenges in accessing vaccines, ensuring more children are protected.
The announcement comes as a significant step towards bolstering public health and safeguarding future generations from preventable diseases. By embedding vaccination delivery into the core of the GP contract, the UK aims to increase vaccine uptake in high-risk communities, prevent outbreaks, and keep children out of hospitals.
