The HPA said that this rise suggested there may be a further increase in routine 24-month MMR coverage later in the year.
Coverage of the pre-school booster and second dose of MMR at five years have increased steadily since 2008. This increase coincided with the introduction of the Vital Signs programme.
The HPA said that PCTs and SHAs focused attention on improving uptake of vaccines in response to the introduction of the programme.
As well as an increase in MMR uptake at 16 months in England, the figures show that coverage of four vaccines rose across the UK in the second quarter of the year. These were:
- haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) and meningitis C booster;
- pneumococcal conjugate jab at 24 months;
- preschool diphtheria, tetanus, the pertussis, polio and Hib vaccine;
- MMR at five years.
