“MMR is the best way we can protect children,” said Dr Linda Charles‑Ozuzu, NHS England North West, as teams ramped up catch‑up clinics and outreach. That message now has fresh backing, with ministers confirming GP contract changes aimed at lifting uptake where it’s lowest. (england.nhs.uk)

The Department of Health says the updated 2026/27 GP contract-details due this week beginning Monday 23 February 2026-will introduce improvement payments so practices are rewarded for progress, not just perfection. It follows renewed concern after 50 measles cases and hospitalisations linked to an outbreak in Enfield. (gov.uk)

Primary care leaders have welcomed the shift. Ruth Rankine of the NHS Confederation called recognising “meaningful improvement rather than relying solely on absolute thresholds” a more realistic way to build trust with families over time. (gov.uk)

For the North, the stakes are clear. Coverage remains below the World Health Organization’s 95% ambition in several communities: in 2024–25 just 74.5% of under‑fives in Manchester and 73.4% in Liverpool had both MMR doses, while Bradford’s five‑year‑old coverage sat at 81.5%. (interactive.guim.co.uk)

The national picture has sharpened. UKHSA recorded 2,911 measles cases in England in 2024-the highest in years-and 959 more through 2025, with 14% of last year’s cases in the North West. Local tallies included Salford (42), Manchester (19), Leeds (29) and Bradford (19). The UK also lost its WHO measles‑elimination status amid sustained transmission. (gov.uk)

Alongside the contract change, the NHS introduced a combined MMRV jab on 2 January 2026, adding chickenpox protection to measles, mumps and rubella. Two doses are now offered at 12 and 18 months, with the second dose brought forward to give earlier cover. (england.nhs.uk)

Officials say incentives in the new contract will be aligned to this updated schedule. Primary Care Networks will also be required to identify care‑home residents overdue routine vaccinations, with more flexibility in how practices collaborate on flu and COVID‑19 clinics. From 1 April 2026, the RSV programme extends to everyone aged 80+ and all older‑adult care‑home residents. (gov.uk)

Ministers are backing outreach too. A £2 million pilot will see health visitors reach families facing barriers to vaccines, including in‑home jabs in pilot areas-an approach designed to reduce missed appointments for parents juggling work, travel and childcare. (gov.uk)

On the ground, Northern systems already run extra walk‑in and evening sessions, roving “Living Well” buses in Cheshire and Merseyside, and school‑based clinics in low‑uptake areas-efforts that could be scaled with new improvement payments. (england.nhs.uk)

Parents are being urged to check their child’s record-on paper or via the NHS App’s ‘My Children’ feature-and book any missed doses. As Health Secretary Wes Streeting put it: “Vaccinations are safe and they save lives.” Speak to your GP if you’ve got questions. (ihv.org.uk)