GP practices may notice an increase in calls from parents and carers over the coming weeks as NHS England launches its 2026/27 national MMR/V catch-up campaign.
As part of the annual national vaccinations and immunisations campaign, NHS England is focusing this year’s programme on measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMR/V) vaccination, following recent measles outbreaks and the loss of England’s measles elimination status.
Why your practice may receive more enquiries
From 7 July 2026, NHS England will begin a six-week national invitation campaign, contacting the parents and guardians of children aged 6 to 11 years who appear to be missing one or two doses of a measles-containing vaccine.
The invitation encourages families to contact their GP practice to book a vaccination appointment or to update their child’s vaccination record if they have already received both doses.
As a result, practices should be prepared for an increase in:
- Telephone enquiries about MMR vaccination status
- Requests to book vaccination appointments
- Parents asking why they have received an invitation when they believe their child is fully vaccinated
- Requests to update vaccination records where vaccines have been given elsewhere
A reminder about vaccination records
Practices will be aware that national invitation campaigns rely on the information held within NHS records. Occasionally, invitations may be issued to children whose vaccination records are incomplete or have not yet been updated.
If parents contact the practice after receiving an invitation but believe their child has already been vaccinated, it is worth checking the clinical record before arranging an appointment. Where appropriate, vaccination records should be updated to ensure future invitations are based on the most accurate information.
Planning ahead
As participation in the annual vaccinations and immunisations catch-up campaign is a requirement of the GP Contract, practices should ensure they have sufficient appointment capacity to manage the anticipated increase in demand throughout the six-week campaign.
Reviewing appointment availability and ensuring administrative teams are aware of the campaign may help practices manage patient enquiries efficiently while supporting efforts to improve MMR vaccination uptake.