Childhood Immunisations

Children in Scotland are protected through immunisation against many serious infectious diseases. Vaccination programmes aim both to protect the individual and to prevent the spread of these illnesses within the population. As a public health measure, immunisations have been hugely effective in reducing the burden of disease. It is of public health concern when immunisation rates fall, as this increases the possibility of disease transmission, and hence complications arising from outbreaks of infectious diseases.

The target of the national immunisation programme is for 95% of children to complete courses of the following childhood immunisations by 24 months of age: Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, Hib, Men C and Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV). An additional target of 95% uptake of one dose of Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR1) by 5 years old (with a supplementary measure at 24 months) was introduced in 2006 to focus efforts to reduce the number of susceptible children entering primary school.

In this section:

• The latest childhood immunisation uptake statistics by NHS board and by Community Health Partnership (CHP) were released on 24 June 2010. A Statistical Publication Notice explains the key points from this release.
  
  
• Immunisation uptake rates in groups of children as they age
  
  
• Immunisation uptake rates by deprivation
  
  
• Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) uptake statistics were released on 25 March 2010. A Statistical Publication Notice explains the key points from this release.
  
  
• Report on the catch-up programme for Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (HIB) (November 2007 - March 2009).
  
  
• Data collection and background notes
  
  
• Recommended ages of childhood immunisations in the UK
  
  
• The full list of childhood immunisation statistics is available in the  List of Published Data

Further information about the current immunisation programmes in Scotland, the vaccines available, and the diseases they protect against, can be found via the NHS Health Scotland Immunisation website www.immunisationscotland.org.uk