Families facing barriers to childhood vaccinations will receive extra support through a new £2m pilot scheme in England.
The initiative will allow health visiting teams to offer vaccinations to children during routine appointments, creating a safety net for families who may otherwise miss out.
The pilot is aimed at families facing challenges such as travel costs, language barriers, childcare pressures, vaccine hesitancy or not being registered with a GP.
Health visitors are specialist public health nurses who support families with children under five through home visits, clinic appointments and advice on child development, feeding and family health.
Under the new scheme, health visitors will be able to provide vaccinations as part of their routine contact with families, helping remove practical barriers to access.
The 12 pilot schemes will be rolled out across five regions of England, including London, the Midlands, the North East and Yorkshire, the North West and the South West.
The Government said the scheme is not designed to replace GP vaccination services, and families should continue to use their local surgery where possible.
Instead, it is intended to reach children who may otherwise fall through gaps in the system.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Every parent deserves the chance to protect their child from preventable diseases but some families have a lot going on and that can mean they miss out.
“Health visitors are already trusted faces in communities across the country. By allowing them to offer vaccinations, we’re using the relationships and expertise that already exist to reach families who need support most.
“Fixing the NHS means tackling health inequalities head-on. By meeting families where they are, we’re not just boosting vaccination rates — we’re building a health service that works for everyone.”
Health visitors taking part in the pilot will receive additional training to give vaccinations safely and support conversations with parents who may have concerns about immunisation.
Families who may benefit from the scheme will be identified using NHS GP records, health visitor notes and local databases.
The year-long trial will be evaluated before any national rollout from 2027.
The pilot forms part of wider efforts to increase vaccination uptake and reduce health inequalities.
The Government said more than 18 million flu vaccines have been delivered this autumn, with hundreds of thousands more vaccinations given compared with the same period last year.
More than 60,000 additional NHS staff have also received their flu jab.
The Government is also investing in digital services to help parents track their child’s health and vaccination history.
Through the NHS App, parents will be able to use “My Children”, a digital alternative to the Red Book, to monitor their child’s health information.
The pilot also builds on the Government’s commitment to Family Hubs and Start for Life programmes, which provide support during pregnancy and the early years of a child’s life.
From 2 January 2026, children will receive the new MMRV vaccine, protecting against measles, mumps, rubella and varicella, or chickenpox, in one vaccine.
The vaccine will replace the current MMR vaccine and offer protection against chickenpox for the first time, while simplifying vaccination for families.
The Government’s “Stay Strong. Get Vaccinated” campaign will also continue throughout the year to promote confidence in vaccination.