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, Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) and Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV). An additional target of 95% uptake of one dose of MMR (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 15 December 2009. 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 24 September 2009. A Statistical Publication Notice explains the key points from this release.
  
  
• 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 on the immunisation programme, letters and factsheets for various ages can be found via the Health Scotland Immunisation website www.healthscotland.com/immunisation/