scotPHO introduction:
  Allergic conditions
  Asthma
  Cancer
  CHD
  Chronic Liver Disease
  Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
  Diabetes
  Disability
  Epilepsy
  Hepatitis C
  Immunisations
  Key points
Introduction
  Policy context
  Data
  Key data sources
  Key references and evidence
  Useful links
  Infections
  Injuries
  Mental Health
  Multiple Sclerosis
  Oral Health
  Stroke
  Suicide
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Immunisations: introduction

Immunisation is one of the most important tools for protecting individuals and the community from serious infectious diseases. Before the development of safe and effective vaccines, a quarter of a million children were affected by measles every other year and epidemics of poliomyelitis affected many thousands in the UK.

Vaccination is used to refer to all procedures for immunisation. The aim of a vaccination programme is to reduce the incidence of, or to eliminate, a particular disease. Immunisation has both a direct and indirect effect. The direct effect is the protection given to the individual receiving the immunising agent. The indirect effect is the reduction of the incidence of the disease in others, the so called ‘herd immunity’. The Department of Health publication Immunisation against Infectious Diseases (the 'Green Book’) details the history of immunisation and immunisation advice over the years since this kind of preventative treatment was first used in 1786.

Childhood immunisation programme

The population of Scotland, and in particular children, are now protected through immunisation against a number of infectious diseases.  These webpages focus on diseases where the main form of control is routine immunisation in children.  The childhood immunisation programme now routinely offers protection against the following diseases:

The Health Scotland Immunisation site provides more detailed information on the national childhood immunisation programme and vaccines.  Further details on the childhood immunisation schedule can be also be found on the Health Scotland website.

Other vaccine preventable diseases

Other vaccines are also available, but not included in the routine childhood immunisation programme, for the following infections:

Tuberculosis

A BCG vaccination against tuberculosis was introduced in the UK in 1953 and was part of the UK national childhood immunisation programme until 2005 when, following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the universal school based programme was replaced by one targeting particular groups at risk.  This advice was assessed and maintained in 2007 and information on this can be found here.

The BCG vaccination will continue to be offered to those at risk due to their occupation, such as health care workers, veterinary staff, staff of prisons; to contacts of known cases, and to those intending to live or work in high prevalence countries for extended periods.

The incidence of TB in Scotland is stable and low, currently with around 400 cases in the latest available year. Further detailed information on Tuberculosis in Scotland is available from the Health Protection Scotland (HPS) website and on Tuberculosis in the UK from the Health Protection Agency  (HPA) website.

Varicella (chicken pox)

Chickenpox is now a vaccine preventable disease with the advent of a live attenuated varicella zoster virus vaccine. Two live varicella vaccines are licensed in the UK and recommended for susceptible healthcare workers and other contacts of immunocompromised patients in certain circumstances

Information on incidence and notifications of varicella are available from the HPS website.

Influenza

An annual flu vaccine is recommended for everyone aged 65 years and over and all adults with serious heart, chest, kidney and other long-term health problems.

Information on surveillance arrangements for influenza can be obtained from the HPS website. Statistics on monthly and annual vaccines dispensed and vaccination contacts within general practices are available from the Practice Team Information section of the ISD website.

Hepatitis B

Currently, due to low incidence of Hepatitis B in the UK, there is no universal vaccination of children against this infection. The current UK policy involves vaccination of groups at high risk of infection though this is currently under review by a special sub-group of the JCVI (HPA, 2005).

Information on the incidence of Hepatitis B in Scotland by Health Board and risk group can be obtained from the HPS Website.