COVID-19 and influenza vaccine uptake in adults under prison care
Winter 2023/24

About this release

This report by Public Health Scotland (PHS) describes the uptake of COVID-19 and influenza vaccines in adults under prison care in Scotland during the winter of 2023/24. Vaccine uptake by prison establishment, vaccine eligibility group, age and sex are reported.

This is the first publication of these data. Future publications are planned on an annual basis. Further developments of this report will be informed by engagement with stakeholders including Scottish Prison Service and NHS boards.

Main points

• The majority of adults eligible for COVID-19 and influenza vaccination in prison care were not vaccinated in winter 2023/24. Prison establishments will have been at increased risk of outbreaks and vulnerable individuals at increased risk of severe clinical outcomes from infections.
• COVID-19 vaccine uptake was low in adults under prison care in winter 2023/24. An estimated 13.8% (n=183) of eligible adults received a COVID-19 vaccine. A further 202 adults, whose eligibility reason was not available in data accessible to Public Health Scotland, also received a COVID-19 vaccine.
• Influenza vaccine uptake was also low in winter 2023/24. An estimated 16.7% (n=1,325) of all adults under prison care received an influenza vaccination.
• Uptake of COVID-19 and influenza vaccines in adults under prison care were lower in winter 2023/24 than in winter 2022/23 (though for COVID-19 there are differences in eligibility and definitions used for reporting between the years so direct comparisons cannot be made). Uptake was also lower in the general population in winter 2023/24 than in winter 2022/23.
• COVID-19 and influenza vaccine uptake was lower in adults under prison care than in the general population in winter 2023/24. Demographic differences will contribute to PHS and official statistics. There were also differences in eligibility for influenza vaccine between the populations.
• There was variation in COVID-19 vaccine uptake rates (range: 0% to 50.0% of those eligible) and influenza vaccine uptake rates (range: 2.1% to 37.9%) across 15 prison establishments.
• Influenza vaccine uptake was higher in females (27.8%) than males (16.3%) but there was little difference in uptake of COVID-19 vaccine between eligible females (12.8%) and eligible males (13.9%).
• Vaccine uptake was greatest in those aged 60 years and over for both COVID-19 (41.2% of those eligible) and influenza (47.8%), and lowest in those aged 30–39 years for both COVID-19 (2.8% of those eligible) and influenza (9.4%).
• COVID-19 vaccine uptake by eligibility group was greatest for those eligible due to age, i.e. aged 65 years and above (44.5%). Uptake was 7.2% for those aged 18–64 years at high risk due to a clinical condition, and 21.3% for those with weakened immune systems.

Background

Adults under prison care are at increased risk from outbreaks of respiratory infections due to the closed setting environment of the prison. Adults under prison care are also at risk of more severe outcomes from infection due to pre-existing health inequalities in this population. Winter vaccination programmes offer protection against COVID-19 and influenza through vaccination of eligible individuals. In winter 2023/24, adults under prison care aged 65 years and above, 18–64-year-olds at higher risk due to a clinical condition and individuals with a weakened immune system were eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination. All adults under prison care were eligible for the influenza vaccine.

Further information

The next release of this publication will be 2025.