Gradual progress in boosting MMR vaccine rate but figures still lie below Scottish average

THE UPTAKE of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine in Shetland children at two years remains below the Scottish average – but there is “slow progress” in boosting rates.

In the first quarter of 2025/26, for example, the rate was 89.7 per cent compared to Scotland’s 92.3 per cent.

The World Health Organisation recommends that nationally at least 95 per cent of children are immunised against diseases prevented by immunisation, including measles, mumps and rubella.

NHS Shetland’s public health director Dr Susan Laidlaw said the rates in Shetland are gradually increasing, evidenced by how it was 87.8 per cent in 2023/24 and then 88.6 per cent in 2024/25.

All children are offered two doses of the vaccine, with the first coming at between 12 and 13 months.

Dr Laidlaw said there were a number of reasons which may lie behind why figures have been slightly lower than average for a “long, long time”.

She suggested that it only takes a small number of children not having the vaccine to affect figures, while there have also been issues with recording uptake.

There is a new recording system but there may still be teething issues, she told a meeting of the NHS Shetland board on Tuesday.

Dr Laidlaw also said there are some “pockets” in Shetland where people do not have the MMR vaccine and this may be exacerbated by families feeling like they do not want it for their children.

She also said it can be difficult for certain people, including working parents, to find the time for an appointment.

“There’s been national campaigns and we try and replicate those locally, around encouraging uptake of MMR because of outbreaks of measles in the UK and across the world,” Dr Laidlaw said.

However, the meeting heard that this has not affected Scotland as much, as measles cases have been contained.

Dr Laidlaw said there have been no cases of measles in Shetland since before the Covid pandemic, and there have only been two since the public health director has been in the isles.

“People aren’t seeing that as an issue, which it makes it a bit more difficult,” she said.

The meeting also heard about change to the vaccination programme which is due to kick in on 1 January.

The second MMR vaccine is currently given at three years and four months, but this will now be from 18 months – with a hope that children are fully vaccinated before attending nursery.

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