Childhood immunisation in Scotland fails to reach WHO target
Ross Ferguson,
09 Jun 2026
5 Min
Childhood immunisation in Scotland fails to reach WHO target
Ross Ferguson,
09 Jun 20265 Min
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The Public Health Scotland annual vaccination and immunisation report for 2025, published today, shows that after years of decline in uptake of childhood immunisations, by 12 months uptake has now stabilised, and there have also been improvements by aged five.
However, the programme is still failing to reach the the World Health Organization (WHO) target.
The WHO recommends that national immunisation programmes should achieve at least 95% coverage for three primary doses of diphtheria, tetanus, polio and pertussis vaccines within the first year of life, and at least 95% coverage for a first dose of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines by the age of two.
In Scotland, by 12 months of age, only 94.2% of children had received the 6-in-1 primary course (diptheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, HiB, and HepB), and by 24 months, only 92.1% had received their first dose of MMR vaccine.
Children living in the most deprived areas had lower vaccine uptake than those in the least deprived areas. This deprivation gradient was seen across all immunisations.
In 2025, vaccine uptake by 12 months of age in those living in the most deprived areas was 92.0% for 6-in-1, 94.0% for PCV, 89.8% for rotavirus, and 92.1% for MenB. This compares to those living in the least deprived areas where uptake for the same immunisations was 97.0%, 96.6%, 94.7%, and 96.1%, respectively.
Table 1: Scotland's childhood and teenage immunisation schedule
| When to immunise | Diseases protected against | Vaccine given |
|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks old | • Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and hepatitis B (HepB) | • Six-in-one |
| • Rotavirus | • Rotavirus | |
| • Meningococcal group B (MenB) | • MenB | |
| 12 weeks old | • Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, Hib and HepB | • Six-in-one |
| • Rotavirus | • Rotavirus | |
| • Meningococcal group B (MenB) | • MenB | |
| 16 weeks old | • Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, Hib and HepB | • Six-in-one |
| • Pneumococcal disease | • Pneumococcal | |
| Between 12 and 13 months old – within a month of the first birthday | • Pneumococcal disease | • Pneumococcal |
| • Measles, mumps, rubella (German measles) and varicella (chickenpox) | • MMRV | |
| • Meningococcal group B (MenB) | • MenB | |
| 18 months old | • Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, Hib and HepB | • Six-in-one |
| • Measles, mumps, rubella (German measles) and varicella (chickenpox) | • MMRV | |
| Every year from age 2 until the end of secondary school | • Influenza (flu) | • Flu |
| 3 years 4 months old or soon after | • Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio | • Four-in-one |
| 11 to 13 years old | • Human papillomavirus (HPV) | • HPV; check MMR vaccine history |
Around 14 years old |
• Diphtheria, tetanus and polio | • Td/IPV |
| • Four strains of meningococcal bacteria (A, C, W and Y) which cause meningitis and sepsis | • Td/IPV • MenACWY |
Source: Public Health Scotland
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