Page last updated: 15-DEC-2009

Childhood Immunisations

ONS kitemarkStatistical Publication Notice

15 December 2009

Childhood immunisation uptake rates, quarter ending 30 September 2009.

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 for children that are 0-5 years of age 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
  • an appointment at around 12 months was added to deliver the Hib/Men C booster
  • a pneumococcal catch up campaign commenced
  • in September 2007 a Hib vaccination catch up programme was introduced 
  • an initiative to reduce the age at which pre-school immunisation is routinely offered, to around 3.5 years of age.
The consequence of these changes is 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 during the first half of 2008 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 2009.

KEY POINTS

  • In Scotland as a whole, quarterly uptake rates by 24 months of age for primary courses of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib, MenC and PCV remain high and stable at around 96% to 98%.
  • Quarterly uptake of one dose of MMR by 24 months is 93.8%.  This is an increase of 0.5 percentage points on the previous quarterly figure.  Quarterly uptake by 5 years of age is 96.2%, the same as the previous quarterly figure.
  • Quarterly uptake of the Hib/MenC booster vaccination by 24 months rose to 94.3% this quarter (94.1% in previous quarter).  Quarterly uptake of the PCV booster by 24 months is 94.8%, an increase of 1.0 percentage points on the previous quarterly figure.  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 quarter ending 30 September 2009, 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, MenC and PCV 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 94.3% for the latest quarter (the previous quarterly figure was 94.1%).
  • 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 94.8%, an increase of 1.0 percentage points on the previous quarterly figure.
  • Uptake of one dose of MMR (MMR1) by 24 months is 93.8% (up by 0.5 percentage points on the previous quarterly figure of 93.3%).  MMR1 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 is 96.2%, the same as the previous quarter.    This once again exceeds the 95% target.  By 24 months the reported uptake for this cohort of children was 92.0% showing that a significant number of children are immunised beyond the standard age.
  • Uptake of the second dose of MMR (MMR2) by 5 years old is 90.1%.  This is an increase of 2.6 percentage points on the previous quarter when the rate was 87.5%.  Other pre-school booster vaccines experienced a similar rise (from 89.6% to 92.6%).
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MAIN CONTACTS:

Ruth Gordon
Senior Information Analyst
Child Health Information Team
0131 275 6335
r.gordon@nhs.net  

Judith Tait
Child Health Information Team Leader
0131 275 6833
judith.tait@nhs.net   

Dr Jim Chalmers
Consultant in Public Health Medicine
Head of Programme
Women & Children's Health Information Programme
0131 275 6136
jim.chalmers@nhs.net

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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:

Under terms of the "Pre-Release Access to Official Statistics (Scotland) Order 2008", ISD are obliged to publish information on those receiving Pre-Release Access ("Pre-Release Access" refers to statistics in their final form prior to publication). The standard maximum Pre-Release Access is five working days. Shown below are details of those receiving standard Pre-Release Access and, separately, those receiving extended Pre-Release Access.
 
Standard (five day) Pre-Release Access:
Scottish Government Health Department (Analytical Services Division)
NHS Board Chief Executives
NHS Board Communication leads
NHS Board Immunisation Co-ordinators   
Medical Director, Health Protection Scotland
Epidemiologist (Immunisation), Health Protection Scotland
 
Extended Pre-Release Access:
Scottish Government Health Department (Analytical Services Division)
This extended Pre-Release Access is given to a small number of named individuals in the Scottish Government Health Department (Analytical Services Division). This Pre-Release Access is for the sole purpose of enabling that department to gain an understanding of the statistics prior to briefing others in Scottish Government (during the period of standard Pre-Release Access).
 
 
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HISTORY OF THIS PUBLICATION:

Last Published: 24 September 2009
Next Due: March 2010
Data Available Since: March 1995

 


Main contact: Email Ruth Girdon