Page last updated: 30-SEP-2008

Child Health

Childhood Immunisations

Latest Childhood Immunisation Uptake rates by NHS Board and Scotland: up to 30th June 2008

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 (whooping cough), polio, haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and meningococcal group C (MenC), 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.

There have been a number of changes to the childhood immunisation programme since September 2006:

  • a new PCV immunisation was introduced
  • a change was made to the schedule given in the first 4 months of life
  • there was the addition of an appointment at around 12 months to deliver the Hib/Men C booster
  • a pneumococcal catch up campaign commenced
  • in September 2007 a Hib vaccination catch up programme was introduced - the Hib catch up programme will continue until March 2009
  • an initiative to reduce the age at which pre-school immunisation is routinely offered to around 3.5 years of age.

The consequences of these changes are that each child needs more appointments and this may lead to some older children receiving their immunisations slightly later than scheduled.  This may reduce the reported uptake rates for some vaccines.

The latest childhood immunisation uptake rates by 12 months, 24 months, 5 years and 6 years, by NHS board and Scotland can be viewed by clicking on the links below:

new release iconLink opens in new windowLatest Quarterly Uptake Rates 1st April to 30th June 2008 [ link to a microsoft excel file121 KB]

Link opens in new windowFinancial Year ending 31st March 2008 [ link to a microsoft excel file127 KB]

Link opens in new windowCalendar Year ending 31st December 2007 [ link to a microsoft excel file127 KB]


Data are also available for Link opens in new windowimmunisation uptake rates by NHS Board from previous quarters and years. 

Or see the Link opens in new windowTrends in Immunisation uptake page.


The key points for quarter ending 30 June 2008, at Scotland level, are:

Uptake rates by 12 months of age

  • Uptake rates by 12 months of age for primary courses of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib, MenC and PCV remain above 95%.

Uptake rates by 24 months of age

  • Uptake rates by 24 months of age for primary courses of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib and MenC remain high and stable at around 97% to 98%.
  • The combined Hib/MenC booster (normally given at around 12 months of age) was introduced in September 2006. This required the inclusion of an additional immunisation appointment in the childhood schedule. Uptake for this vaccine by 24 months of age has risen to 84.5%. This is an increase of 5.6 percentage points on the previous quarter when the rate was 78.9%. The uptake figures for the Hib/MenC booster are modest in comparison with other immunisations, but it is too early to draw any conclusions from this.
  • A booster dose of PCV was also introduced in September 2006 (normally given at the same appointment as the first dose of MMR at around 13 months of age). Uptake for this vaccine by 24 months of age is 91.8%. This is an increase of 1.2 percentage points on the previous quarter when the rate was 90.6%.
  • Uptake of one dose of MMR (MMR1) by 24 months is 91.7%. This is a increase of 0.5 percentage points on the previous quarter when the rate was 91.2%. From the 4th quarter of 2006 there has been a fall of 1.1 percentage points in MMR1 uptake by 24 months from 92.8% to 91.7%. This followed a general trend of rises in uptake from 85.8% in the 2nd quarter of 2003 to 92.8% in the 4th quarter of 2006.

Uptake rates by 5 years of age

  • Quarterly uptake of one dose of MMR (MMR1) by 5 years old is 94.9%, just below the 95% target (in the previous quarter uptake was 94.3%).  Seven NHS Boards met or exceeded the target. By 24 months the reported uptake for this cohort of children was 89.5% showing that a significant number of children are immunised beyond the standard age.
  • Uptake of the second dose of MMR (MMR2) by 5 years old is 81.1%. This is a decrease of 2.5 percentage points from the previous quarter when the rate was 83.6%. Other pre-school booster vaccines experienced a similar fall (from 87.1% to 84.3%).



Back to Childhood Immunisation Information to Immunisation Information Page


Main contact: Email child health