MENINGITIS vaccinations for young people in Bradford are down by almost 25 per cent since before lockdown. 

New figures from The UK Health Security Agency highlights fewer youngsters in the city are getting the jab which can help prevent the potentially deadly virus.

The data shows 56.2 per cent of Year 9 students in Bradford go the MenACWY vaccine – which protects against four strains of the meningococcal bacteria – in the 2021-22 academic year.

This is a significant fall of 21.9 per cent from 78.1 per cent in 2018-19, the last academic year before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bradford’s decrease in uptake is slightly higher than the average for the country over that period, which dropped by 18.8 per cent from 88 per cent to 69.2 per cent.

Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: “In recent years, we have seen vaccine uptake fall due to the challenges posed by the pandemic.

“Many young people who missed out on their vaccinations have already been caught up, but more needs to be done to ensure all those eligible are vaccinated.

“These vaccines offer the best protection as young people start their journey into adulthood and mixing more widely, whether going to college, starting work, travelling or going to summer festivals.”

There has also been a country-wide decline in uptake for the 3-in-1 vaccine – which protects against tetanus, diphtheria and polio.

This is reflected in the data for Bradford, with 77.5 per cent taking the booster in the last pre-pandemic school year, compared to 55.8 per cent last year – a drop of 21.7 per cent.

It is a number that is again higher than the decrease on average across the country.

The uptake in the 3-in-1 vaccine across England dropped by 18.6 per cent, from 77.5 per cent before the pandemic to 55.8 per cent in the 2021-22 academic year.

Health Minister Maria Caulfield said: "It’s incredibly important for children to stay up to date with routine vaccinations as this remains one of our best defences against infectious diseases, not just for the person being vaccinated but for their family, friends and those around them."

She added that in support of World Immunisation Week, she is urging parents to speak to their school nurse, school immunisation team or GP surgery to book an appointment if their children are not vaccinated.

Last week, Unicef said about 67 million children around the world did not receive routine jabs between 2019 and 2021.

The Telegraph & Argus contacted Bradford Council for comment but did not receive a response before publication.