Page last updated: 16-DEC-2009

Immunisations

Office of National Statistics kitemarkStatistical Publication Notice

16 December 2008

Childhood immunisation uptake rates, quarter ending 30 September 2008

INTRODUCTION

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.
 
In Scotland 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 national target of 95% uptake of one dose of MMR vaccine by 5 years of age (with a supplementary measure at 24 months) was introduced in 2006 to focus efforts on reducing 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 Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (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 due to prioritisation of younger children for primary immunisation appointments.  This may have reduced the reported uptake rates for some vaccines by 5 years of age in recent quarters though rates are now around previous levels.  Uptake rates by 6 years of age have remained high throughout.
 
Childhood immunisation uptake rates for Scotland are monitored and published quarterly.  This release includes data to 30 September 2008.

KEY POINTS

  • In Scotland as a whole, uptake rates by 24 months of age for primary courses of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib and MenC remain high and stable at around 96% to 98%.
  • Uptake of one dose of MMR by 24 months increased to 92.3%.  Uptake by 5 years of age rose to 95.4% and now exceeds the 95% target for the first time since reporting began in December 2006.
  • Uptake of the Hib/MenC booster vaccination by 24 months rose to 90.6% this quarter (84.5% in previous quarter).  Uptake of the PCV booster by 24 months rose to 93.0% (in the previous quarter uptake was 91.8%).  These vaccines were introduced to the childhood immunisation schedule in September 2006 along with the other substantial changes to the programme mentioned above.

INTERPRETATION

In Scotland uptake rates for the childhood booster vaccines (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio, and the second dose of MMR (MMR2)), have historically been reported by 6 years of age.  In line with figures for the rest of the UK, from quarter ending December 2006, uptake rates for these vaccines are now reported by 5 years of age.  For trend purposes, reporting by 6 years of age will also continue to be presented.

For details of Scotland's routine childhood immunisation timetable see Immunisation Schedule.

DETAILED FINDINGS

For the quarter ending 30 September 2008, at Scotland level:

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 96% 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 of this vaccine by 24 months of age has risen each quarter to reach 90.6% for the latest quarter (the previous quarterly figure was 84.5%).  The uptake figures for the Hib/MenC booster are slightly more modest in comparison with other immunisations, however it is too early to draw any firm 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 93.0%.  This is an increase of 1.2 percentage points on the previous quarter when the rate was 91.8%.
  • Uptake of one dose of MMR (MMR1) by 24 months rose to 92.3% (the previous quarterly figure was 91.7%).  MMR uptake rates by 24 months have continued to be above 90% since autumn 2005. 

Uptake rates by 5 years of age

  • Uptake of one dose of MMR (MMR1) by 5 years of age rose to 95.4% and now exceeds the 95% target for the first time since reporting began in December 2006 (in the previous quarter uptake was 94.9%).  By 24 months the reported uptake for this cohort of children was 90.0% showing that a significant number of children are immunised beyond the standard age.
  • Uptake of the second dose of MMR (MMR2) by 5 years of age is 87.4%.  This is an increase of 6.3 percentage points from the previous quarter when the rate was 81.1%.  Other pre-school booster vaccines experienced a similar rise (from 84.3% to 90.5%).  See introduction/context for further information.

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MAIN CONTACTS:

Judith Tait
Child Health Information Team Leader
0131 275 6833

Dr Jim Chalmers (Consultant in Public Health Medicine)
Head of Programme
Women & Children's Health Information Programme
0131 275 6136

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GLOSSARY:

MMR - Measles, Mumps, Rubella
Pertussis - Whooping cough
Hib - Haemophilus influenzae type b
MenC - Meningitis C
PCV - Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine 
 
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PRE-RELEASE ACCESS TO THIS PUBLICATION WAS GIVEN TO:

Scottish Government Health Directorates
Health Protection Scotland
NHS Board Immunisation Co-ordinators and admin/IT staff for quality assurance purposes
Chairs of the Child Health Surveillance Programme National User Groups
NHS Board Chief Executives
 
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HISTORY OF THIS PUBLICATION:

Last Published: 30/09/2008
Next Due: 31/03/2009
Data Avaliable Since: March 1995

 


Main contact: Email Judith Tait