Parents are being told to 'book now' in certain circumstances11:41, 07 Jul 2026Updated 11:41, 07 Jul 2026Parents are being reminded to check their child's vaccination record after the NHS issued a fresh update about protection against four infectious diseases. If your child was born after a certain date and has missed a dose, they could now be eligible for an alternative vaccine.‌In a post shared on X, the NHS urged parents whose children have missed one or both doses of their MMR or MMRV vaccine to book an appointment with their GP practice if they receive an invitation. The reminder comes as the health service continues efforts to improve childhood vaccination uptake.‌The MMRV vaccine protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox. It is being offered to eligible children born on or after December 1, 2019, who are invited by their GP practice after missing one or both routine vaccinations.‌Content cannot be displayed without consentPreviously, children routinely received separate MMR and chickenpox vaccines where eligible. The introduction of the combined MMRV vaccine means eligible children can receive protection against all four illnesses in a single injection, reducing the number of appointments and injections needed.The NHS says the MMRV vaccine is offered as part of a phased rollout in England and is available only to children born on or after December 1, 2019. Parents whose children are eligible will be contacted by their GP practice when it is time to book an appointment.‌It comes amid continued concern over falling uptake of childhood vaccinations. According to the UK Health Security Agency, measles cases have increased in England in recent years, with health officials warning that lower vaccination rates have allowed the virus to spread more easily.UKHSA figures show there were over 800 cases of measles in the first half of 2026 and 2 reported deaths, compared to 959 cases for the whole of 2025. There have been clusters of measles cases reported in areas of the country, with every region of England seeing cases.‌Figures also show a gap of 7.5% in vaccine coverage between the least and the most deprived areas of the country. The vaccination rate for both MMR doses at age five years in England is 84.1% (Jan – March 2026), lower than the 95% target set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and in January this year the WHO confirmed that the UK had lost its measles elimination status.The NHS says two doses of the MMR vaccine provide the best protection against measles, mumps and rubella. Vaccination is the most effective way of preventing serious complications, including meningitis, hearing loss and, in rare cases, inflammation of the brain.Chickenpox is usually a mild illness, but it can sometimes lead to complications including skin infections, pneumonia and inflammation of the brain, particularly in babies, adults and people with weakened immune systems. The combined MMRV vaccine helps protect against these risks while reducing the number of injections children need.Article continues belowParents who think their child has missed one or both doses do not need to start the vaccination schedule again. Instead, the NHS advises contacting your GP practice to arrange any outstanding vaccinations and discussing whether your child is eligible for the combined MMRV vaccine if they have been invited.