Home jabs for young children to launch in new NHS pilot scheme
Parents in struggling families to be offered home visits for vaccinations as part of new government plan
From this month, health visitors in 12 areas of England will begin offering vaccinations at home to young children whose families are struggling to access routine healthcare.
The initiative, announced by Health Secretary Wes Streeting, is part of a wider push to reverse declining vaccine uptake and protect children from preventable diseases.
The scheme is focused on families not registered with a GP or those who face challenges such as travel costs, childcare issues or language barriers.
The government says most families should continue to access childhood vaccinations at their local surgery.
Health visitors to play a bigger role
As part of the trial, health visitors – specialist nurses or midwives trained in community public health – will be given more time to work with a smaller number of families with children under five. The hope is that by building trusted relationships, they can help ensure children don't miss out on vital early protection.
Streeting told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he was “shocked” by how little focus there had been on children's healthcare during his time in opposition.
“As human beings, it is in our nature to prioritise children,” he said. “You talk to the overwhelming majority of parents, good parents, they will take bullets for their children.”
“There is that kind of innate sense of 'I will do everything I can to protect my child'. I don't think that's reflected sufficiently in the state.”
Areas taking part in the trial
The year-long trial will roll out across 12 locations, including parts of London, the Midlands, the North East and Yorkshire, the North West, and the South West.
While specific regions haven’t yet been named, the Department of Health says the areas have been chosen due to lower vaccination rates and higher rates of health inequality.
Why this matters for families
Vaccine coverage for children in England has been falling for the past decade. According to the latest NHS data, none of the childhood jabs currently meet the 95% coverage target for children aged five and under – the level recommended for herd immunity.
Professor Steve Turner, President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, welcomed the announcement and urged action to address long waits for child health services.
“Long waits for community and elective care are unacceptable at any age, but this is especially true for children where delays can cause irreversible and lifelong harm if care isn't provided during critical developmental windows,” he said.
Pressure on the children’s health system
More than half a million children in England are currently facing long waits for NHS care. Turner called the situation “a national scandal” and urged the government to tackle disparities in the way adult and child healthcare is prioritised.
He added that action was needed on wider health issues including childhood obesity, mental health, and smoking exposure, alongside improving vaccination access.
Streeting acknowledged the drop in health visitors and community nurses in recent years and said a workforce plan was in development to rebuild staffing levels.
Free chickenpox vaccine now available on NHS
As part of broader efforts to improve early years health, the NHS is also rolling out a new chickenpox vaccine for all children up to the age of six, free of charge from January 2026.
The new vaccine offering is expected to protect thousands of young children from a condition that, while often mild, can lead to complications and time off nursery or school.
What happens next?
The pilot will be closely monitored over the next 12 months, with the government assessing whether home vaccination visits could be extended more widely across England.
For now, the message from health leaders is clear: making vaccinations more accessible could be a crucial step in protecting the youngest members of society – especially those most at risk of falling through the cracks.
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Ruairidh is the Digital Lead on MadeForMums. He works with a team of fantastically talented content creators and subject-matter experts on MadeForMums.