PHS publishes Annual Vaccination and Immunisation report for 2025
First published on 09 June 2026
- Immunisations
Public Health Scotland (PHS) has published its Annual Vaccination and Immunisation report. It provides a comprehensive overview of Scotland’s Vaccination and Immunisation Programme (SVIP) activities in 2025. Furthermore, it provides insights, analysis and intelligence from the largest coordinated public health programme across Scotland.
Scotland delivers a comprehensive NHS-funded immunisation programme, with routine vaccines offered across all age groups throughout the life-course to provide timely protection against vaccine-preventable infections. The report shows encouraging progress in several areas, including implementation of new and expanded programmes, strengthening of national governance, demonstrating impact through research, and positive signs of stabilisation and increases in uptake for some vaccines.
Notably, childhood immunisations by 12 months have stabilised, and there have been improvements by aged five. The winter vaccine programme also recorded gains in uptake. There was a significantly high number of vaccines delivered in a short period of time, with over 1.8 million doses of influenza vaccine administered throughout the programme. Uptake was highest among older care home residents (82.6%), and adults aged 75 years and older (81.0%). Increases in uptake among healthcare workers were also achieved in comparison to winter 2024/25.These improvements reflect the joined-up efforts of local and national teams working across Scotland.
In 2025, several changes were made to immunisation programmes. These included updates to the childhood schedule, a new meningococcal B vaccine for gonorrhoea prevention, a different pneumococcal vaccine for adults and at-risk groups, extended eligibility for RSV immunisation, and changes to COVID-19 eligibility. All were delivered successfully through strong national and local collaboration.
Across Scotland, there is persistent inequality in vaccine uptake linked to deprivation, ethnicity, sex, and geography. Overall, vaccine uptake remains lower in the most deprived areas, highlighting the need to improve access, confidence, and meaningful engagement.
Early engagement with NHS Boards on progress in implementing Scotland’s 5-year Vaccination and Immunisation Framework and Delivery Plan indicates that a broad range of activities are already well underway. A new data framework is also planned to support delivery, enhance efficiency, and track the impact of Scotland’s vaccination and immunisation programme and it’s 5-year framework and delivery plan.
Dr Sam Ghebrehewet, Head of the Vaccination and Immunisation Division (VAID) at PHS said:
“Vaccination is not only one of the most effective health interventions, but also one of the most efficient, with a very significant impact on public health globally. The wider impact of immunisation in protecting the individual and our communities cannot be underestimated. Protecting the population of Scotland from vaccine-preventable diseases will continue to depend on a resilient, equitable and responsive vaccination and immunisation system, underpinned by strong partnership and shared commitment.
“This report celebrates the breadth of the work underway at local and national levels across Scotland and provides insight into areas where further focus and sustained effort are required. Looking ahead to 2026, the continued embedding of the new SVIP governance structure will support further improvement and progress in delivering the ambitions set out in the 5-year framework and delivery plan.”
- Read Scotland's 5-year Vaccination and Immunisation Framework and Delivery Plan which outlines our clear direction on our collective mission, vision, goals and priority areas for the Scottish Vaccination and Immunisation Programme
- View our dashboard PHS Vaccination Surveillance
- Find out more about vaccinations in Scotland at NHS Inform