The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Targets for child immunisation need more work
Health minister has promised there will be ‘no complacency’
Public health minister Joe Fitzpatrick has promised there will be no complacency in the country’s drive to hit child immunisation targets.
Nationally the desired rates were achieved, however some areas fell short of the 95% goal in key categories.
Almost one in 10 of two-year-olds in Dundee and more than 10% in Perth and Kinross had not received their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
More than 10% of two-year-olds in Perth and Kinross had also not been immunised against haemophilus influenzae type b and meningococcal group C, pneumococcal conjugate and meningococcal B.
Uptake does rise with age. Almost 99% of six-year-olds have been immunised against MMR in Dundee, along with 97% in Angus and just short of that rate in Fife and Perth and Kinross. In Scotland as a whole, more than 96% of children aged six and above have been immunised against measles, mumps and rubella.
Mr Fitzpatrick said: “We have continued to exceed the 95% target and there is no evidence of significant transmission of measles in Scotland among infants or children in primary or secondary school.
“This reflects both the hard work and commitment of those working in the NHS and the recognition of the benefits of vaccination. However, we are not complacent and will continue to make every effort to promote and encourage childhood vaccinations.”
NHS Tayside consultant in public health medicine Dr Daniel Chandler said levels of coverage remained good with over 95% of one-year-olds receiving all scheduled vaccinations.
“Uptake of the first dose of the MMR vaccine among two year olds was a little lower in some areas,” he noted.
“But by six years of age almost 97% of children across Tayside had received at least one dose of MMR, above the national average, while over 93% had received two doses – again, higher than the figure for Scotland as a whole.”
The uptake of vaccines worldwide has led to a drastic reduction in childhood
“We are still suffering from debunked MMR claims. PROF MARTIN MARSHALL
death, statistics show. For herd immunity to work, between 90-95% of the population needs to be immunised.
Professor Martin Marshall, vicechairman of the Royal College of GPS, previously said uptake had to rise.
“It is clear that we are still suffering from entirely debunked claims around MMR that were perpetuated in the nineties – and are now resurgent on social media and other online platforms,” he said.
NHS Fife did not respond to a request for comment.