Pneumococcal and shingles vaccination data
PHS vaccination surveillance dashboard

About this release

This release by Public Health Scotland (PHS) provides the most up to date information on uptake and coverage of pneumococcal and shingles vaccination, alongside data on those who are eligible for vaccination.

Main points

Pneumococcal:

• As of 30 September 2023, coverage of the pneumococcal vaccine among the eligible population (nhsinform.scot) in Scotland was 70.8%.
• Specifically, among those aged 65 years and older, coverage was 81.0%. For those aged 2- to 64-years-old and who are at higher risk of developing complications from a pneumococcal infection, coverage was 51.9%.
• Coverage among the eligible population was lower among those living in the most deprived areas compared with the least deprived areas (62.2% vs. 77.7%), a difference of 15.5%.
• From 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023, uptake of pneumococcal vaccine was 29.4% among all eligible individuals (36.4% in 65+ and 16.6% in at-risk).
• During this period, 21.3% of eligible individuals living in the most deprived areas were vaccinated, while 38.5% of eligible individuals living in the least deprived areas were vaccinated, a difference of 17.2%.

Shingles:

• As of 31 August 2023, coverage of the shingles vaccine, among the eligible population in Scotland (aged 70-79 years and severely weakened immune system (nhsinform.scot)), was 75.6%.
• Among those aged 70-79 years, coverage was 75.6% and for individuals with a severely weakened immune system, coverage was 69.4%.
• Among the eligible population, individuals from the most deprived areas were less likely to receive the shingles vaccine compared with individuals from the least deprived areas (67.8% vs. 82.0%), a difference of 14.2%.
• From 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2023, uptake of the shingles vaccine was 39.8% in all eligible individuals (39.8% in 70-79 years, 32.0% in the severely weakened immune).
• During this period, 31.1% of eligible individuals living in the most deprived areas were vaccinated, while 50.9% of individuals living in the least deprived areas were vaccinated, a difference of 19.8%.

Background

For the first time, uptake and coverage data for shingles and pneumococcal are included on the PHS vaccination dashboard, alongside information on influenza and COVID-19. Uptake is the proportion of eligible individuals who received a vaccine during a specific time period (e.g., year), excluding those previously vaccinated. Uptake is lowest at the beginning of the reporting period but is expected to increase as the vaccination programme progresses and offers continue. Coverage is the proportion of eligible individuals who have been vaccinated in the past, regardless of when they received the vaccine. This represents a snapshot at a single point in time (specific date).

The pneumococcal vaccine provides protection against pneumococcal infections which may result in life-threatening invasive disease such as pneumonia, meningitis, and septicaemia. The pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for all people aged 65 years and over, and people aged 2 to 64 years old who are at higher risk of developing complications from a pneumococcal infection. A full list of those eligible for the pneumococcal vaccine is available on NHS inform.

The shingles vaccine can reduce the risk of getting shingles and the risk of complications. The main complication from shingles is post-hepatic neuralgia, a neuropathic pain that can persist for months or years and the risk and severity increase with age. Information about eligibility and getting the shingles vaccine is available on NHS inform and from the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland letter on shingles vaccination.

Further information

You can access the interactive dashboards on the PHS website PHS Vaccination Surveillance  and open data from the Scottish Health and Social Care Open Data platform.

The next release of this publication will be Q1 2024 (April to June 2024).