Page last updated: 26-JUN-2007

Child Immunisations


Statistical Publication Notice

26 June 2007

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Childhood immunisation uptake rates, quarter and year ending 31 March 2007   


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 population from contracting these illnesses. 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.
The national target for immunisation uptake is 95% among children by 24 months of age for completed courses of each of the primary immunisation programmes: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, haemophilus influenzae type b (hib), MenC, and measles, mumps and rubella (MMR).  In line with World Health Organisation targets and figures for the rest of the UK, the Scottish Executive also monitor the target of 95% uptake of one dose of MMR (MMR1) by 5 years of age. 
Childhood immunisation uptake rates are calculated quarterly, for quarters ending March, June, September and December.  The current release includes data to 31 March 2007.

KEY POINTS

In Scotland as a whole the 95% target for immunisation of 2 year olds is being met for the majority of the primary immunisation programme.  For 2 year olds the uptake of the first dose of MMR (MMR1) has fallen from 92.8% in the fourth quarter of 2006 to 92.3% in the first quarter of 2007.  For the financial year 2006/07 as a whole there has been a rise in uptake of the first dose of MMR (MMR1) for this age group of 1.8 percentage points from 90.6% in 2005/06 to 92.4% in 2006/07.
This year we report on progress towards the World Health Organisation target for MMR of 95% uptake of the first dose by age 5.  For the financial year 2006/07, the Scotland wide uptake rate for 5 year olds is 94.1%, with the final quarter of the year showing uptake at an encouraging 94.4%.

INTERPRETATION

In Scotland uptake rates for the pre-school booster vaccines (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio, and the second dose of MMR (MMR2)), have been routinely reported at 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 at age 5.  For trend purposes, reporting at 6 years of age will continue to be presented.
For details of Scotland's routine childhood immunisation timetable seeImmunisation Schedule .

DETAILED SUMMARY

For the quarter ending 31 March 2007:

  1. At Scotland level, quarterly uptake rates at 12 months of age for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib and MenC remain above 95%. 
  2. At Scotland level, quarterly uptake rates at 24 months of age for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib and MenC have remained relatively stable at around  98%. 
  3. Uptake of one dose of MMR (MMR1) at 24 months for children born in the 1st quarter of 2005 is 92.3%.  This is a decrease of 0.5 percentage points from the previous quarter when the rate was 92.8% (children born 4th quarter of 2004).
  4. There is variation in uptake of the first dose of MMR (MMR1) at 24 months (born 1st quarter of 2005) across NHS Boards ranging from 86.5% in Highland to 95.5% in Dumfries & Galloway (excluding Island Boards).
  5. Uptake of one dose of MMR (MMR1) at 5 years for children born in the 1st quarter of 2002 is 94.4%, just below the World Health Organisation target of 95%.  At 24 months the reported uptake for this cohort of children was 88.0% showing that a significant number of children are immunised beyond the standard age.
  6. Uptake of the second dose of MMR (MMR2) at 5 years for children born in the 1st quarter of 2002 is 82.8%.  This is a decrease of 3.9 percentage points from the previous quarter when the rate was 86.7% (children born 4th quarter of 2001).  This may be a seasonal effect relating to the timing of pre-school booster immunisations  and was observed for this quarter last year.
  7. Uptake of MMR2 at 6 years for children born in the 1st quarter of 2001 is 88.7%, up 0.1 percentage points from the previous quarter when the rate was 88.6% (children born 4th quarter of 2000).

For the financial year ending 31 March 2007:

  1. Uptake of one dose of MMR (MMR1) at 24 months for children born in the financial year of 2004/05 is 92.4%.  This is an increase of 1.8 percentage points from the previous year (born 2003/04) when the rate was 90.6%.
  2. Uptake of one dose of MMR (MMR1) at 5 years for children born in the financial year of 2001/02 is 94.1%.  At 24 months the reported uptake for this cohort of children was 87.3% showing that a significant number of children are immunised beyond the standard age. 

OTHER INFORMATION

Changes to the routine childhood immunisation schedule were introduced on 4 September 2006.  Prior to September 2006, children required 3 doses of MenC as part of their course of primary immunisations.  Under the new schedule, children require 2 doses of MenC before the age of 12 months, followed by the Hib/MenC booster after the age of 12 months.  Therefore, from the quarter ending 30 September 2006, the calculation of uptake rates for MenC have been amended to reflect the change in the number of doses required for a complete course of MenC (2 doses under 12 months).  Uptake rates for the Hib/MenC booster will be published for the first time in the autumn of 2007.

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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
 
Anne Leigh-Brown
Programme Principal
Women & Children's Health Information Programme
Tel: 0131 275 6481
Anne.Leigh-Brown@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
 

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PRE-RELEASE ACCESS TO THIS PUBLICATION WAS GIVEN TO:

Scottish Executive Health Department
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:  27/03/07
Next Due:  25/09/07
Data Available Since:  March 1995

 


Main contact: Email Judith Tait