PHS publishes Annual Vaccination and Immunisation report for 2024

Public Health Scotland (PHS) has today published its second Annual Vaccination and Immunisation report. It reviews the activities of Scotland’s vaccination and immunisation programme in 2024 and offers insight from the successes and challenges of the country’s largest coordinated public health programme.

Scotland delivers a comprehensive immunisation programme, with routine vaccines offered across all life stages and provided free of charge by the NHS.

Scotland’s vaccination programme stands as a remarkable public health success story, with high uptake rates protecting communities across the nation. Yet, as this second report reveals, NHS boards face significant challenges in delivering the programme. These include declines in uptake over time and persistent health inequalities that leave some communities more vulnerable than others. Despite these challenges, all NHS boards and partners remain committed to delivering a high-quality service and to improving vaccine uptake. 

The 2024 Annual Report highlights include the August launch of the new Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccination programme, targeting older adults and pregnant women. The programme achieved strong uptake in its first year (just over 70%), reducing RSV-related hospitalisations among older adults of eligible ages by 62%.

Scotland’s vaccination and immunisation programme and its partner organisations are determined to reduce inequalities in vaccine uptakes. In addition to providing data by deprivation (SIMD), in 2024, PHS began reporting childhood immunisation data by ethnicity and urban-rural classification. This will improve understanding and support delivery to ensure that everyone in Scotland gets the vaccinations they need to stay healthy.

Scotland’s 5-year framework and delivery plan, aimed at strengthening immunisation efforts across the country, was published in 2024. Continued partnership working between PHS, NHS boards, Scottish Government and third sector partners will be key as we work to make further improvements to the programme and ensure everyone in Scotland is offered the best protection against preventable diseases.

The programme is preparing for significant developments in 2025, including a revised childhood immunisation schedule. All partners are also continuing to work towards the goal of eliminating cervical cancer by encouraging uptake of the highly successful HPV vaccination programme.

Dr Sam Ghebrehewet, Head of the Vaccination and Immunisation Division (VAID) at PHS said: 

“Vaccination is not only one of the most effective health interventions but also one of the most efficient. It helps keep people well, saves lives, reduces pressure on the NHS, and contributes to healthier communities. This report celebrates the work being done in Scotland and provides insight into where we need to continue our focus.

“This second annual report shows the importance, extent and success of the local NHS board immunisation teams.  PHS retains its commitment to encouraging all people in Scotland to take up their offers of vaccines that can help to keep them healthy and, in some cases, save their lives.”

• Read the Annual Vaccination and Immunisation report for 2024
  
  
• Read Scotland's 5-year Vaccination and Immunisation Framework and Delivery Plan which outlines our clear direction on our collective mission, vision, goals and priority areas for the Scottish Vaccination and Immunisation Programme 
  
  
• Read about planned changes to childhood vaccinations in Scotland
  
  
• Read about the launch of Scotland's new life-saving Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccination programme and its impact in reducing hospitalisations.
  
  
• Find out more about vaccinations in Scotland at NHS Inform