Chamber and committees

Between winter 2023-24 and winter 2024-25 uptake across all adult groups for both flu and COVID-19 decreased, with flu uptake dropping back in line with pre-pandemic levels.

Each year, the Scottish Vaccination and Immunisation Programme (SVIP) reviews the performance of the previous winter programme to improve delivery and implement new initiatives with the aim of improving uptake. In addition, SVIP holds regular winter task and finish groups throughout the winter programme, led by PHS and attended by immunisation teams from the 14 territorial Health Boards, as well as the national Boards and Scottish Government policy teams. This helps the programme to respond in real time to any unexpected drops in uptake, including sharing best practice.

There are a wide range of steps being taken to encourage uptake through how people are invited for vaccination. People eligible due to age and/or health condition will receive a direct communication by letter, email or text with details about their appointment or information on how to book one. In winter 2023-24, all those with a digital preference who self-booked via the online booking portal or national vaccination helpline received a digital reminder 24 to 48 hours before their appointment. This winter, we have expanded those reminders to 100% of those with a booking who have a digital preference, which now includes all those who have been automatically scheduled by the national programme. For those who are sent an appointment via SMS or email, a new process launched in spring 2025, whereby if an email address is undeliverable, or the mobile number is no longer in use, a letter is sent to inform the individual and encourage them to log in or ring the helpline to update their details and book an appointment.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) has developed a new communications campaign (For some, flu hits harder) focused on raising awareness and encouraging uptake of the flu vaccine. Communications and marketing activity is running nationally across radio, social media, out of home, paid display and pay per click advertising from 15 September to 7 December. This activity is highly targeted at lower uptake groups including those aged 18-64 years of age with an eligible health condition, pregnant women and health and social care workers, as well as in areas with lower SIMD and with ethnic minority communities.

New resources including posters and social media toolkits have been shared with over 1,300 key stakeholders. The social media toolkit includes resources for both the flu and COVID-19 vaccines and includes a range of videos, statics, case studies, website, newsletter and intranet copy.

Updated information is available on NHS Inform and significant activity is being undertaken by PHS to reach particular people. PHS currently share health information resources such as leaflets, posters and social media toolkits with a wide range of partners who represent Scotland’s diverse population. As standard, core resources are produced in five primary languages (English, Arabic, Chinese Traditional (Cantonese), Chinese Simplified (Mandarin) and Polish) and four other formats: Audio, British Sign Language, Easy Read and Large Print, with additional formats and languages available on request.

PHS have also been working closely with a range of third sector partners to help design and disseminate programme materials for particular stakeholder groups. This includes members of the Alliance, the British Islamic Medical Association, Age Scotland and Asthma and Lung UK.

Scotland’s spring and winter vaccination programmes for flu and COVID-19 are implemented as part of the Scottish Vaccination and Immunisation Programme (SVIP) - a collaborative effort involving the Scottish Government, Public Health Scotland, and Health Boards.

In recognition of Scotland’s changing demographics and the ageing population, territorial Health Boards assess and plan their workforce needs to effectively implement their respective programs each season.

For each programme, SVIP conducts precise assessments of the eligible population - based on criteria established by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation - recognising that these numbers may vary annually, and planning is accordingly adjusted to ensure effective implementation.

Health Boards do not receive their entire stock in one delivery. Instead, they draw down stock based on demand in order to minimise wastage and optimise on-site capacity.

COVID-19 vaccines have been available for Boards to order since 8 September, for the COVID-19 programme start date of 29 September. Adult flu vaccine stock has been available for Boards to order since 26 August and child flu vaccine stock has been available for Boards to order since 1 September.

COVID-19 stock will be available until the conclusion of that programme on 31 January 2026 and all necessary flu vaccines will be available until the conclusion of that campaign on 29 March 2026.

There are no issues with the supply of any of the winter flu and COVID-19 vaccines and we have procured adequate supply for the duration of the programmes.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), in its minutes of 10 October 2023, advised that the adult flu programme should run from the beginning of October to the end of November, with Health Boards able to apply flexibility as appropriate.

The Scottish Vaccination and Immunisation Programme (SVIP) has been operationalising this advice since winter 2023-24. For each immunisation programme, SVIP looks at the precise numbers of those eligible, as the denominator fluctuates each year, and planning is undertaken to operationalise accordingly.

Planning for winter 2026/27 will commence in spring 2026 and we will align programme dates with the JCVI advice as normal.

Improving uptake in this group is a key focus for Ministers and for the Scottish Vaccination & Immunisation Programme (SVIP). By improving vaccination in this group, staff are protected, onward transmission to colleagues and patients is reduced, all of which contributes to the resilience of Scotland’s health care services.

A range of steps are being taken this winter to encourage Health and Social Care staff to take up the offer of the flu vaccine. Public Health Scotland’s campaign “For some, flu hits harder” is being highly targeted at lower uptake groups including health and social care workers. Health Boards are running specific staff engagement sessions and actively promoting vaccination eligibility and information on how to receive the vaccine via staff intranet sites and social media channels. Boards are also championing vaccination uptake through senior leadership forums and staff briefings across the health care sector. Most Boards are also using dedicated flu champions to promote vaccination locally and case study videos, using health care workers, are in development, aimed at sharing their personal and/or professional experience on the importance of the flu vaccination programme. Digital prompts have been sent to health and social care workers via SMS and email to encourage them to book appointments, and most Health Boards plan to hold drop-in clinics for health and social care workers at convenient, flexible and easy to access locations. An expansion of peer-to-peer vaccination programmes is taking place across different health and social care sites within Health Boards.

All those aged 75 years and over are eligible for both flu and COVID-19 vaccination, and will be offered both vaccines at the same appointment. Invitations for these cohorts will have been sent out by the start of November.

Additionally, in October, the Scottish Vaccination & Immunisation Programme runs a flu and COVID-19 mid-programme data refresh. This is designed to pick up those who may have become newly eligible due to developing a new clinical condition, or for those who have moved into Scotland, since the initial data was run in the late summer. These new invites are sent throughout November.

All material considerations raised in representations and submitted by members of the public are carefully considered before reaching a decision on the application.

This is the case whether or not a representation has been created using template-based text, submitted individually or collectively, generated with the use of Artificial Intelligence, or is close to identical to other representations.

The submission of representations is the most effective means for communities to provide their views on an application, and helps to promote transparency and accountability in the decision-making process.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41171 on 27 October 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

The Energy Consents Unit does not formally recognise any organisation involved in the submission of representations regarding applications.

All submissions received by the ECU are treated in the same manner, provided that they meet the requirements as set out on our website: https://www.gov.scot/publications/energy-consents-how-to-support-or-object-to-an-application/

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41171 on 27 October 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers