Page last updated: 30-SEP-2008

Immunisations

ONS kitemarkStatistical Publication Notice

30 September 2008

Childhood immunisation uptake rates, quarter ending 30 June 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 old (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 reduce the reported uptake rates for some vaccines at age 5 years.  However, rates at age 6 years remain high.
 
Childhood immunisation uptake rates for Scotland are monitored and published quarterly.  This release includes data to 30 June 2008.

KEY POINTS

  • In Scotland as a whole, quarterly uptake rates show that the 95% target for immunisation of 2 year olds is being met and exceeded for all primary immunisations apart from the first dose of MMR.  MMR uptake rates at 2 years have continued to be above 90% since autumn 2005. 
  • Quarterly uptake of the first dose of MMR (MMR1) by 5 years of age has risen to 94.9%, just below the 95% target.
  • Quarterly uptake of the Hib/MenC booster vaccination by 24 months rose to 84.5% (in the previous quarter uptake was 78.9%). Uptake of the PCV booster by 24 months rose to 91.8% for the latest quarter (90.6% in previous quarter).  These vaccines were introduced to the childhood immunisation schedule in September 2006 along with other substantial changes to the programme.  Uptake rates for the Hib/MenC booster are modest in comparison with other vaccinations but it is too early to draw any firm conclusions from this.

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.  For trend purposes, reporting by 6 years of age will continue to be presented.

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

DETAILED FINDINGS

For the quarter ending 30 June 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 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 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 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 an 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 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%).  See introduction/context for further information.
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MAIN CONTACTS:

Judith Tait
Child Health Information Team Leader
Tel: 0131 275 6833
Judith.Tait@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk

Dr Jim Chalmers (Consultant in Public Health Medicine)
Head of Programme
Women & Children's Health Information Programme
Tel: 0131 275 6136
Jim.Chalmers@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk

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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: 24/06/2008
Next Due: 16/12/2008
Data Avaliable Since: March 1995

 


Main contact: Email Judith Tait