Vaccine Uptake Among Children In Scotland

5th July 2023

Public Health Scotland (PHS) has published the latest childhood immunisation report describing the uptake rates for children in Scotland to the end of March 2023.

This shows, that while uptake of immunisations for children remains high in Scotland, quarterly uptake rates over the past 10 years have shown gradual declines in Scotland in all routine immunisations.

This is concerning given that immunisation programmes for children aim to protect them from many serious infectious diseases and prevent the spread of disease in the wider population.

Dr Claire Cameron, Consultant in Health Protection at Public Health Scotland said, "Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted routine childhood immunisation programmes, with dramatic falls in uptake rates in some areas. While vaccine uptake remains high overall in Scotland, any decline is concerning as we work to ensure children are protected against vaccine-preventable diseases.

"Immunisation is the best way of protecting against serious diseases and we would encourage everyone who is invited to take up the offer of vaccination."

More information on Childhood Immunisations is available on NHS Inform.

Flu
All children in Scotland aged 2 to 5 years are eligible to get the flu vaccine. They must be: aged 2 years or above on the 1 September 2022. not yet in school.