Public Health Scotland Publishes First Annual Vaccination and Immunisation Report 2023

This is the first Annual Vaccination and Immunisation Report for Scotland. It provides an overview of Scotland’s Vaccination and Immunisation programme for 2023 and the role it is playing to protect the population of Scotland from a range of infectious diseases. This programme is Scotland's largest co-ordinated public health intervention. The report reveals the progress made in this top health protection priority and offers insight into areas of excellence and challenge.

The breadth and value of the report results from collaboration between PHS, national and local NHS boards, the Scottish Government, Health and Social Care partnerships, and third sector organisations to deliver the Scottish Vaccination and Immunisation Programme.

Scotland offers a comprehensive, accessible, and free immunisation programme to protect its people at all stages of life. The combined 2023 report shows the success of this approach, with vaccination uptakes exceeding many of those in the rest of the UK - though not yet consistently reaching World Health Organization (WHO) targets.

The data identifies several areas for improvement. The slow decline in the uptakes of childhood vaccinations is a cause for concern and, although teenage vaccination rates have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, they are not yet at their pre-pandemic levels. There is a deprivation gap, with lower overall uptake in areas of higher deprivation. For some vaccines there is an uptake difference of 20% between the most and least deprived communities. There is also a pressing need to increase vaccination rates among at-risk groups. By collecting and analysing information from all areas of the vaccination and immunisation programme in Scotland, the report identifies opportunities for the whole system to learn from localised successes and challenges to improve national results.

Dr Sam Ghebrehewet, Head of Immunisation and Vaccination at PHS is enthusiastic about the potential that the combined report offers:

“Evidence points to the power of vaccinations to protect people, communities and health services - as well as the wider economy. This first Annual Vaccination and Immunisation Report is an excellent example of the power of successful partnerships. It shows us what’s working, what the challenges are, and what needs to improve. It will inform our future plans and actions to ensure individuals and communities across Scotland get the vaccinations they need regardless of who they are or where they live.”

PHS is working with the Scottish Government, local NHS boards and other partners to finalise Scotland's 5-year Vaccination and Immunisation Framework and Delivery Plan, setting goals and plans to optimise the uptake of vaccines, reduce inequality and averting illnesses, serious diseases and mortality. The second Annual Vaccination and Immunisation Report with be published in July 2025.

Read the report here.