NewsHealthHealthGPs will be contacting families to encourage uptake of the jabNeil Shaw Assistant Editor (Money and Lifestyle)06:36, 07 Jul 2026Around a million families are being urged to get their children vaccinated against potentially deadly childhood bugs. NHS officials have launched a catch-up campaign aimed at parents of children aged two to 11 who have missed out on their jab which protects against measles.‌In June, health officials announced that two children in England have died from measles this year amid hundreds of cases. Figures released by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show there have already been 801 cases of measles this year, compared with 959 cases for the whole of 2025.‌Now health officials are reaching out to around a million families of children who have missed one or both doses of the vaccine which protects against measles. The MMR/V vaccine also protects against mumps, rubella and chickenpox.‌GPs will reach out to parents of children under the age of six. Those with children aged six to 11 will be contacted via the NHS App, text, email or letter.NHS director of vaccination Caroline Temmink said: “Measles can be devastating for families, with sometimes tragic consequences, which is why we’re reaching out to parents to help them protect their children. These childhood illnesses are serious and some of them in rare cases can be fatal, but they are entirely preventable.‌“This is why GPs based in the communities they know so well are contacting families to help overcome any barriers to getting children the protection they need. If you are invited to catch up on your child’s vaccinations, please come forward and take up this crucial offer.”Public health minister Sharon Hodgson added: “Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to protect children from serious diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox. These illnesses can be devastating, but they are preventable through routine childhood immunisation.Article continues below“If you’ve been contacted by the NHS to catch up on your child’s vaccinations, I encourage you to take up this offer as soon as possible. Making sure children are fully vaccinated means we can help keep them healthy, protect vulnerable people in our communities and prevent future outbreaks.”Earlier this year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that the UK is no longer considered to have eliminated measles. The announcement in January follows a plateau in vaccination coverage and a surge in cases.Figures for the first three months of the year show that 84.1% of five-year-olds had received both doses of the MMR vaccine. NHS England’s catch-up campaign will run until March next year.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌NHSWorld Health OrganisationAppsMMR vaccineRubellaMumpsMeaslesHealth