This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Latest child immunisation figures
06/12/2002
Figures published today show that children's immunisation rates in Scotland as a whole remain consistent with the national target.
The latest quarterly statistics show rates to the end of September for the child immunisation programme which offers protection against diptheria, whooping cough (pertussis), tetanus, polio, haemophilius influenzae type B (Hib), Meningococcal serogroup C disease (Men C), measles, mumps, rubella and tuberculosis (BCG).
The figures show:
- uptake rates at 24 months for diptheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, hib and MenC remain above target at 97 per cent
- uptake rates at 12 months for diptheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, hib remain above 95 per cent with MenC at 94.5 er cent
- the MMR uptake rate at 24 months is 87.3 per cent, lower than the previous quarter figure of 88.6 per cent, but higher than the figure of 86.9 per cent for the end of September 2001
Concerned at the levelling off of MMR uptake rates, the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Mac Armstrong, said:
"Today's statistics are a little disappointing but uptake remains higher than this time last year. Although I think we are seeing a levelling off of uptake rates of MMR, it is reassuring that nearly 9 out of 10 parents are choosing to protect their children with MMR.
"These figures confirm the importance of maintaining our long term programme of work to address parents' questions. We will continue to work with health professionals across the country to provide parents with timely, factual and balanced information and advice, to help them make informed decisions.
"The Health Education Board for Scotland recently distributed further stocks of the MMR Discussion Pack so that health professionals and parents across the country can make more widespread use of its invaluable information and advice on the merits of opting for MMR.
"I cannot stress enough that the threat of these three diseases will remain whilst children remain unvaccinated. Postponing vaccination or leaving children unvaccinated not only leaves these children at risk but poses risks to vulnerable groups of children who, for medical reasons, cannot be vaccinated."
The publication NHSScotland Child Health Statistics: Immunisation statistics, quarter ending 30 September 2002 is available from the NHS' Information and Statistics Division website:
www.show.scot.nhs.uk/isd/publications/publications.htm
The Executive's formal response to the recommendations of the MMR Expert Group was published in October 2002 and can be found on the Executive's web site - www.scotland.gov.uk (Publications). This document contains detail of the long term programme of action planned around MMR.
The MMR discussion pack can be accessed through the HEBS web site - http://www.hebs.com/services/pubs/
The national target rate is 95 per cent uptake among children by the age of 24 months for each of the primary immunisation programmes (diptheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, haemophilus influenzae type b (hib), measles, mumps and rubella).