One less thing: Childhood vaccination campaign

Throughout your child’s early years, they will be offered a number of routine vaccines between the ages of 0-4 years old. These vaccines are designed to protect them from a range of serious diseases such as polio, tetanus and many more. Many of the diseases these vaccines protect against are now rare in Scotland thanks to successful vaccination programmes. This is why you may not have heard of some of them.

However, uptake of childhood vaccinations in Scotland has declined over the past decade, especially among babies and pre‑school children. When fewer children are vaccinated, these diseases can return and spread more easily.

Some of the diseases prevented by vaccines can lead to long-term health problems, and others can even be life-threatening. Vaccination is the safest and most effective way to keep children protected as they are proven to save lives by reducing the spread of disease.

We also acknowledge that being a parent can be tough and at times it can feel overwhelming. When you’re tired and stretched, the important decisions can feel hard to make. But knowing your child is vaccinated and protected means it’s one less thing to worry about, leaving you free to deal with everything else that comes your way.

For more information on childhood vaccinations and when babies and young children will be offered them visit nhsinform.scot/onelessthing