Immunisation

This Scottish Vaccine Update provides regular current information, both clinical and programmatic, for Scotland’s vaccination workforce.  The aim of the publication is to keep healthcare practitioners informed on the latest activity within each of the vaccine programmes, whether directly involved with vaccine administration or having conversations about vaccination as part of their role.

To help support practitioners, NHS Education for Scotland/Public Health Scotland have revised and updated the Core COVID-19 vaccination eLearning (will be published Monday 24th March) and the vaccine specific learning resources. A short update learning resource, including details on eligibility for the programme and the vaccines being deployed, has also been developed.

The content continues to align with JCVI statements, Green Book Chapter and CMO letters. Practitioners should ensure they have access to the current versions of these resources.

We’re excited to introduce a new resource on Turas designed to support the wider healthcare workforce in their vital role in vaccination efforts. Whether you’re a GP, nurse, midwife, pharmacist, or another healthcare professional, you play a crucial part in building vaccine confidence, addressing barriers to access, and improving uptake in communities.

This new resource provides:

• Key insights from Scotland’s 5-Year Vaccination and Immunisation Framework
• Guidance on how to have effective vaccine conversations
• Tools to support individuals with specific needs, such as neurodivergence or needle phobias

By fostering informed and empathetic discussions, you can help protect communities, reduce health inequalities, and strengthen Scotland’s vaccination efforts.

Explore the resource now on our Turas pages.

The JCVI advises on UK vaccination policy. With the discontinuation of Menitorix® (Hib/MenC), key changes to the childhood immunisation schedule include:

• At 18 months: An additional Hib-containing vaccine dose and the second MMR dose (moved forward from 3 years 4 months).
• At 12 months: Removal of the MenC vaccine dose.

These changes take effect from July 2025 (Menitorix® withdrawal) for the 12 month cohort and January 2026 (new 18-month visit).

For full details, see the JCVI statement. NES and PHS will provide workforce learning resources in due course