NEW figures show that the North-East has the highest levels of immunisation for most routine childhood vaccinations.

The figures, from the Health and Social Care Information Centre, shows the proportion of eligible children having received the first dose of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine by their second birthday was highest in the North-East at 95.5 per cent.

By contrast the lowest level regionally was in London at 87.5 per cent.

Regionally, coverage in England was highest in the North-East for all routine childhood vaccines measured at one, two and five years with the exception of the ‘five in one’ vaccine as measured at one year, which was highest in the East Midlands.

Kingsley Manning, chair of the HSCIC, said: “Today’s report shows clear variation across the country in vaccination coverage amongst children. It is notable to see that the North East of England has the highest levels of immunisation across the majority of routine childhood vaccinations and London has the lowest levels for all.”