Scottish Vaccine Update
Issue 81
- Published
- 01 July 2024
- Type
- Reference materials
- Author
- Public Health Scotland
Foreword
By Sam Ghebrehewet, Head of Vaccination and Immunisation Division
Welcome to the first edition of the reinstated Scottish Vaccine Update.
Going forward, this monthly publication will provide regular current information, both clinical and programmatic, for Scotland’s vaccination workforce.
This edition will focus particularly on pertussis (whooping cough) by looking at the increase in cases in 2024, and outlining the latest updates in the maternal pertussis programme, including changes from July onwards.
Over the years there have been many changes to the overall vaccination programme we offer in Scotland. This includes schedule changes, eligibility changes and the introduction of new vaccines, all of which have enabled increased prevention and protection for our population.
The vaccines we offer protect against diseases that can affect anyone at all stages of life.
When we think about vaccination, we often think primarily about the most obvious impact they have: they protect and they prevent.
For an individual this means protection against the risk of severe illness and potentially life-changing consequences or complications, but there may be much wider impacts than the initial period of illness.
For example, a vaccine-preventable disease such as pertussis in an infant can also impact upon their feeding, their attachment and increased parental anxiety during what can often be a prolonged period of illness.
The wider impacts of vaccination are also in terms of reduced pressure on healthcare and associated costs, which can include primary care appointments, hospitalisations, medicine use, plus any long-term complications, which will also be prevented.
Vaccination is one of the most effective health interventions we have, and it takes a lot of people to make a vaccination programme happen.
I’d therefore like to take this opportunity to thank all staff involved in Scotland’s vaccination programmes, as without your engagement and unwavering support for the public health agenda our communities would remain unprotected.
Providing this monthly update will keep healthcare practitioners informed on the latest activity within each of the vaccine programmes as we continue to collaborate with key stakeholders and work towards a Scotland where everybody thrives.
Increase in whooping cough cases in Scotland
An increase in pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is being seen across the UK and Europe.
Cases of pertussis have also increased in Scotland since the beginning of the year.
You can see the latest surveillance data on the pertussis section of our website.
Benefits of getting vaccinated
Public Health Scotland (PHS) is encouraging pregnant women to get immunised against pertussis.
The vaccine offers vital protection to babies from birth until they are old enough to have their first routine immunisations, starting at 8 weeks of age.
Parents are encouraged to ensure their children are fully immunised against pertussis, as it is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the lungs and airways.
Pertussis causes long bouts of coughing.
Symptoms to look out for include:
- cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, red and watery eyes, sore throat and slightly raised temperature
- intense coughing bouts starting about a week later
- coughing up thick mucus, which may be followed by vomiting
- gasping for breath between coughs, which may cause a ‘whoop’ sound – although not everyone has this
Getting vaccinated
Vaccination in pregnancy
Those who are pregnant are encouraged to speak to their midwife about getting the pertussis vaccine.
Find out more about pregnancy and baby immunisations on NHS inform.
If a child has missed a dose
Parents are encouraged to contact their local NHS immunisation team to arrange for their children to get vaccinated if they have missed any doses.
Contact details are available on NHS inform or by calling 0800 22 44 88.
Update to maternal Pertussis programme
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Introduction of the programme
A safe and highly effective maternal pertussis vaccination programme was first introduced in October 2012, using dTaP/IPV (a combined tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis and polio-containing vaccine) to protect young infants from birth at highest risk of severe disease.
Evaluation of the programme in England has shown that maternal pertussis vaccination gives a very high level of protection against confirmed disease and death from pertussis in infants under 3 months of age.
Review of evidence
In October 2022, following a review of the latest evidence, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advised a preference for a non-IPV-containing pertussis vaccine in the maternal programme.
This followed studies measuring antibody levels in the infants of mothers who had received polio-containing vaccines (dTaP/IPV) in pregnancy. These studies showed lower antibody responses to polio (after completion of their primary infant schedule) compared to infants born to unvaccinated mothers, although all remained above the protective threshold.
New vaccine recommended
To address this potential immunity gap caused by the blunting of the infant’s polio response to primary vaccines, a non-IPV-containing (Tdap) vaccine, brand name ADACEL, has now been procured.
Tdap vaccine has been shown to have an excellent safety profile and to be effective in the maternal pertussis vaccine programmes in many other European countries, the USA and Australia, with millions of doses administered worldwide.
Key changes
From 1 July 2024, the preferred vaccine used in the programme will change to ADACEL.
The ADACEL vaccine, manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur, was licensed for UK use in 2016 and contains antigens to:
- tetanus
- diphtheria
- pertussis (acellular)
The summary of product characteristics (SmPC) is available.
Scottish Government have released a CMO letter to highlight these changes.
ADACEL will be available for recording on the Vaccine Management Tool (VMT) from 1 July 2024.
ADACEL® vaccine supply
ADACEL is now available to order.
There is a limit of 5,400 doses per account per week. If this limit is too low for your health board, please contact PHS.
ADACEL is the preferred vaccine for vaccination from 16 weeks of pregnancy. However, it is not suitable for people with latex allergy.
For those with latex allergy, or where ADACEL is not available, Boostrix IPV or Repevax can continue to be used.
All pertussis-containing vaccines should be stored at 2 to 8°C, in the original packaging.
National specimen Patient Group Direction (PGD)
A national specimen Patient Group Direction (PGD) has been issued to NHS boards which combines all pertussis-containing vaccines.
Please refer to your locally approved PGD alongside the training materials from NHS National Education for Scotland (NES).
Informed consent materials
PHS has updated the information to support informed consent for the pertussis vaccine offered from week 16 of pregnancy.
From 1 July 2024, the vaccine offered will change from a 4-in-1 vaccine to a 3-in-1 vaccine providing protection against pertussis, diphtheria and tetanus.
This new leaflet replaces the previous version.
Please recycle any old stock as it should no longer be used from 1 July 2024.
You can also direct patients to NHS inform for further information, including the leaflets in alternative languages and formats (such as British Sign Language and Easy Read).
To order the leaflet in other languages or alternative formats (such as Easy Read and large print), email phs.otherformats@phs.scot
Workforce education materials
Workforce education materials will be available shortly, subject to availability of the updated Green Book chapter.
Vaccine-preventable disease surveillance data
Disease surveillance is an essential component of prevention and control.
PHS publishes a quarterly report on vaccine-preventable diseases under surveillance in Scotland, including data on diseases including pertussis (whooping cough), measles, meningococcal disease, polio and invasive pneumococcal disease.
The latest release, published on 4 June 2024, includes data to the end of quarter one of 2024.
The report presents data showing that there has been an increase in pertussis case numbers since late 2023, continuing into the first quarter of 2024, consistent with increases in pertussis cases seen across the UK and in Europe more widely.
The report also shows that there were six cases of measles in the first quarter of 2024, most of which were imported from outside the UK. These cases occurred in the context of a resurgence of measles across Europe.
The next quarterly release will be published on 3 September 2024.
Weekly updates on measles and pertussis case numbers in Scotland are available on the PHS website. Note that these figures are provisional and subject to change.
Vaccination and immunisation workforce education
NHS Education for Scotland (NES), in partnership with PHS, has developed a variety of workforce education resources to support the Scottish Vaccination and Immunisation Programme (SVIP).
These resources, available on Turas Learn, will be of interest to practitioners whose remit includes immunisation, whether administration or giving advice.
Promoting Effective Immunisation Practice (PEIP) is a learning programme aiming to help enable healthcare practitioners to promote and administer vaccinations confidently, competently and effectively.
This is in addition to vaccine-specific learning and learning to help support vaccination practice, such as:
- injection techniques
- informed consent
- supporting those who experience procedural distress or anxiety
- improving vaccine confidence
The learning resources available are updated and added to regularly to ensure that they continue to reflect current practice.
For example, resources to help support practitioners involved with travel health and NHS travel vaccine provision.
In practice there may be workforce groups with specific roles and responsibilities, such as midwives.
Learner pathways are available to support practitioners to identify the learning suitable to their needs. Proficiency assessment tools are available for use locally with support and supervision.
Vaccine supply
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Routine vaccines
There are currently no issues with vaccines for the routine vaccination programmes.
Please ensure you hold stocks sufficient for two weeks supply locally.
If you have any queries around ordering limits or supply issues, please contact your local vaccine holding centre.
Non-routine vaccines
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) publishes an update on supplies for the non-routine vaccine programmes.
It is available in the UKHSA vaccine update: issue 345, May 2024 as well as in the following section.
Valneva
- Dukoral is available but subject to order caps of 10 packs per customer per week.
Patientric
- Vaxchora is available.
GSK
- Twinrix Adult singles and packs of 10 are available.
- Twinrix Paediatric is currently available.
- Ambirix is available.
Sanofi
- Viatim is now a discontinued product and no longer available for sale.
Sanofi
- ADACEL is available to order without restrictions.
GSK
- Supply of Boostrix-IPV is currently available.
Sanofi
- Repevax is currently available.
Sanofi
- Revaxis is available.
GSK
- Infanrix IPV+Hib is currently available.
GSK
- Supply of Havrix Adult PFS singles and packs of 10 are currently available.
Sanofi
- Avaxim PFS singles and packs of 10 are currently available.
MSD
- VAQTA Adult is available.
GSK
- Supply of Havrix Paediatric singles and packs of 10 are currently available.
MSD
- VAQTA Paediatric is available.
Sanofi
- Avaxim Junior singles are currently available.
GSK
- Engerix B PFS singles and packs of 10 are currently available.
- Supply of Fendrix is currently available.
MSD
- HBVAXPRO 10 micrograms is available.
- HBVAXPRO 40 micrograms is available.
Valneva
- PreHevbri is available.
GSK
- Supply of Engerix B Paediatric singles is currently available.
MSD
- HBVAXPRO 5 micrograms is available.
GSK
- Shingrix is currently available.
GSK
- Menitorix is currently available.
MSD
- Gardasil 9 is currently available.
Valneva
- Ixiaro is available.
GSK
- Menveo is currently available.
Pfizer
- Nimenrix is currently available.
Sanofi
- MenQuadfi is available.
GSK
- Bexsero is currently available.
MSD
- MMR Vaxpro is currently available.
GSK
- Priorix is currently available.
Pfizer
- Prevenar 13 is currently available.
MSD
- Vaxneuvance is currently available.
MSD
- Supply of Pneumovax 23 (PPV23) PFS is available.
Valneva
- Rabipur is out of stock until 24 July 2024.
Sanofi
- Verorab is available to order with restriction of 30 doses per customer per month.
GSK
- Rotarix is currently available.
Sanofi
- Typhim singles and packs of 10 are available.
Patientric
- Vivotif is available.
GSK
- VARILRIX is currently available.
MSD
- VARIVAX is available.
Sanofi
- Stamaril is available.
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The Scottish Vaccine Update is a monthly publication.
It provides regular, up-to-date information for Scotland’s vaccination workforce.
We aim to keep healthcare practitioners informed on the latest activity within each of the vaccine programmes.
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