New figures reveal uptake drop for key childhood vaccines across Highlands

New figures published by Public Health Scotland have revealed a drop in the coverage for several key childhood vaccines in the Highlands.

According to the latest childhood immunisation statistics published earlier this week, uptake rates for boosters of the MMR vaccine – which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella – among five-year-old children were down to 86 per cent by June this year from 91 per cent in the same period last year.

Uptake rates for the 4-in-1 booster protecting against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio have dipped to 86.5 – compared to more than 91 per cent in June 2022. This is among the lowest uptake percentages in a decade.

This comes as a recent leaked report highlighted the challenges faced by NHS Highland in the delivery of vaccines after it shifted from GPs to Health boards in March 2023.

Concerns over inefficiency of the new system – among which long travel times for staff and accessibility to vaccine clinics for people living in rural areas – were among the concerns raised in the report and voiced by GPs and communities in the Highlands.

Childhood vaccination statistics showed that uptake rates for the first doses of MMR by 24 months went up from 89 per cent to 91 per cent, whereas Men B vaccines by 12 months-old (protecting from meningococcal group B bacteria) were sightly up from 93 per cent to 93.9 per cent this year.

When questioned about the new childhood immunisation data, a NHS spokesperson said: "Childhood vaccination figures show similar rates and trends compared with previous quarterly results.

"Uptake for some vaccinations is lower and for some it is higher. Overall uptake does need to be improved and we are working to achieve this."

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