TRAVEL. COVID-19. FLU.
About Vaccinations.
The information on this website was updated on the 29th August 2023
General Vaccinations
The way vaccinations are delivered has changed. GP’s no longer deliver any vaccinations (both children and adults) and the responsibility for this has transferred to health boards.
You and your family will now receive your vaccinations at a vaccination centre.
The Vaccination Service helps to protect the population of Grampian by vaccinating against infectious disease and viruses. Vaccines are given at different times and at different ages to protect children and adults, supporting them to build immunity and live healthier lives.
Immunisation is one of the best health interventions ever introduced. Every year vaccination helps save 3 million lives worldwide and helps protect against serious diseases such as flu, measles, mumps, whooping cough, meningitis, and polio. Find out why immunisation’s important and what a vaccine protects against at NHS Inform.
Importance of vaccinations
Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent infectious diseases.
Immunisation is a way of protecting against serious diseases. Once we’ve been immunised, our bodies are better able to fight these diseases if we come into contact with them.
Immunisation is one of the biggest health successes of the last century. Some diseases that are caused by viruses can’t be cured with antibiotics. The only way to control them is by immunisation. With continued immunisation programmes, such diseases may no longer be a threat.
When enough people are immunised against an infection, it’s more difficult for it to be spread to those who are not immunised. This is called ‘herd immunity’ or ‘population protection’.
However, if people stop having vaccines, it is possible for infectious diseases to quickly spread again.
Immunisation is a global health and development success story, saving millions of lives every year. Vaccines reduce risks of getting a disease by working with your body’s natural defences to build protection. When you get a vaccine, your immune system responds.
We now have vaccines to prevent more than 20 life-threatening diseases, helping people of all ages live longer, healthier lives. Immunization currently prevents 3.5-5 million deaths every year from diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, influenza and measles. Please click here for more information
Contact
Scottish Vaccination Helpline
The helpline is open Monday to Friday 9.00am to 6.00pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm. It is closed on Sundays.
NHS Inform have set up a free helpline, 0800 030 8013, to help with:
- Book or amend an appointment
- Any general advice on coronavirus or the flu vaccine
If you need help with your COVID vaccination status, please call 0808 196 8565 between 10am and 6pm.
Accessible information:
The vaccine information leaflets are available in British Sign Language (BSL), audio, other languages, Easy Read and large print formats can be found on our FAQ page.
Language Line is available at all vaccination appointments. This is a telephone-based interpretation service which gives staff access to expert interpreters, on the telephone, in 60-90 seconds, for over 170 different languages.
Also available:
- Portable hearing loops
- A quiet space/room
- All sites are wheelchair accessible
- All sites have access to language line
Information is also available in large print and other formats and languages, upon request.
Please call NHS Grampian Corporate Communications on (01224) 551116 or (01224) 552245.