Vaccinations help protect us against serious, preventable diseases.
Once we have been vaccinated, our bodies are better able to fight these diseases if we come into contact with them.
What’s the difference between vaccination and immunisation?
Vaccination means receiving vaccine, having it by injection, nasal spray or oral vaccine.
Immunisation means receiving vaccine then becoming immune to a disease. Vaccinations encourage your body’s immune system to produce antibodies that will fight off a virus or bacteria.
Changes to the way vaccinations are given in the Borders
Since October 2021, NHS Borders has been taking over responsibility from GPs to provide vaccinations as part of the Primary Care Improvement Plan.
NHS Borders Vaccination Service leads the delivery of immunisation programmes in partnership with public health, school immunisation, community nursing, occupational health, maternity services, general practice, acute services and the wider Scottish Borders Health and Social Care Partnership.
In Scotland there are a number of national immunisation programmes:
- Routine childhood
- Schools
- Pertussis for pregnant women
- Pneumococcal
- Shingles
- Travel
- Flu
- COVID-19
- Selective vaccinations by referral
More information is available on vaccination and immunisation from NHS Inform online or by calling the NHS Inform helpline 0800 22 44 88 (open 7 days a week from 8.00am to 8.00pm).