The Government has started 2026 with a clear statement about its plans to prioritise children’s health and child health services. The iHV welcomes these plans which provide an important opportunity to learn from the past and build a better future for our nation’s children.

In an interview on BBC Radio 4 Today Programme on New Year’s Day, Wes Streeting said he was ‘shocked’ by what he described as a lack of focus on children’s health and children’s healthcare, stating that, “One of the things we have to do as a government, as well as trying to recover the NHS generally […] so that it’s there for everyone when we need it – I think focusing on children and children’s health in particular, is really crucial”. [See Radio 4 Facebook post or listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds Radio 4 – Wes Streeting’s interview starts at 1:34:37]

Wes Streeting MP, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and the Department of Health and Social Care also announced the roll out of a new £2 million pilot which will see health visitors reaching families who face barriers to vaccines – to ensure that more children are protected.

Health visiting teams will offer vaccinations to children – providing a vital safety net for families who may miss out. The new pilot targets those families who have fallen through the cracks – including those not signed up with a GP, struggling with travel costs, childcare juggling, language barriers, or other tough circumstances that stop them getting to the doctor.

Offering vaccinations during routine health visitor visits removes these obstacles and ensures that more children can access life-saving protection. The pilot scheme uses the trusted health visitor relationships and expertise that already exist to reach families who need support most. The scheme is not designed to replace GP services, and families should continue to get vaccinated at their local surgery first.

The iHV has been involved in the national project Board for the childhood vaccination pilot and fully supports this initiative to maximise the public health role of health visitors, alongside the Government’s wider plans to strengthen health visiting.

The twelve pilot schemes will roll out from mid-January across five regions of England – London, the Midlands, North East & Yorkshire, North West, and South West.

Announcing the roll out of the pilot, Health 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.”

Professor Helen Bedford, Professor of Children’s Health, Population, Policy and Practice Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, and iHV Expert Adviser: Immunisations, commented:

“Despite the overall success of the UK childhood vaccination programme in protecting our children from potentially serious infections, vaccine uptake has been in decline for over a decade with poorer children less likely to be vaccinated. To address this,  the Government has announced an initiative involving health visitors who are already a trusted source of advice for families on vaccination. Building on that trust, this initiative will enable health visiting teams to administer vaccines. The vaccination offer will focus on families who have difficulties accessing services; vaccines may be offered in the home or other venues convenient for families. This initiative is being piloted and if successful may be rolled out more extensively.”

The year-long trial will be evaluated before rolling it out across the country from 2027.

Health visitors on the pilot will get extra training to tackle tricky conversations with worried parents – including those who have doubts about vaccination – and to give vaccinations safely.

From 2 January 2026, children will receive the new MMRV vaccine, protecting against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox in one vaccine. This replaces the current MMR vaccine and offers protection against chickenpox for the first time while making vaccination simpler for families.

Commenting on the new chickenpox vaccine, Professor Bedford said:

“Chickenpox is common and highly infectious with most children under 10 years experiencing an attack. This usually fairly mild though often very uncomfortable due to general malaise and the itchy spots. However, it can result in serious complications including pneumonia, encephalitis and even death. The introduction of a varicella (chickenpox) vaccine to protect our children is therefore an extremely welcome addition to the childhood vaccine programme. It will be offered at 12 and 18 months as a combined vaccine (MMRV). The vaccine has been used successfully for many years in other countries.”

The Government is also investing in better digital services to help families track their child’s health and vaccinations. Through the new NHS App, parents will be able to monitor their children’s health using My Children – a 21st century digital alternative to the Red Book.