Children in rural Somerset are being offered home vaccinations

A year-long NHS pilot in Somerset will offer trained nurses and midwives to visit homes and vaccinate children who face barriers to reaching GP appointments, aiming to support about 400 children and inform a national rollout next year.

Somerset has launched a year-long NHS pilot to offer home visits for childhood vaccinations in rural areas. The programme aims to help families who have trouble getting to GP appointments. Qualified nurses and midwives will receive extra training to give vaccines safely at home and to answer parents' questions. Somerset Council is supporting the pilot as part of local public health work. Key details: - The immunisation programme is led by health visitors and runs for one year. - Qualified nurses or midwives will receive additional training to administer vaccines in the home. - The scheme targets children who have not taken up previous GP vaccination offers. - It focuses on families facing barriers such as travel costs, childcare or language. - The pilot is expected to support about 400 children and to inform a planned national rollout next year. Summary: Officials say the pilot is intended to improve access to routine childhood vaccinations in rural areas and to reach families who missed earlier offers. It is expected to support around 400 children and will inform plans for a wider roll-out across the country next year.