Health visitors in Somerset are now able to offer routine vaccinations to children in their homes as part of a national NHS pilot.
The year‑long pilot aims to help families who face barriers to accessing GP appointments, such as travel costs, childcare pressures, language difficulties or not being registered with a GP, before rolling it out across the country from 2027. Additionally, starting this month, children across the UK will also be offered protection against chickenpox as part of the routine NHS schedule, delivered as a combined MMRV vaccine.
Under the scheme, health visitors (qualified nurses or midwives with specialist public health training), will receive additional training to administer vaccinations safely in the home and support parents who may have questions or concerns.
Somerset Council is contributing to this national effort through a Health Visitor‑led immunisation programme already underway locally, aimed at reaching children who have not taken up previous GP vaccination offers. The pilot in Somerset is progressing well and is expected to support around 400 children.
Cllr Graham Oakes, Lead Member for Public Health at Somerset Council, said:
“This is a very encouraging development for families in Somerset and across the UK. Making vaccinations easier to access helps ensure more children get the protection they need to stay healthy and well, especially in more rural areas.”
National information about the health‑visitor vaccination pilot can be found on GOV.UK: Families to have better access to childhood vaccinations.
