See advice on how to help protect against serious, vaccine-preventable diseases. You'll also find schedule information as to when immunisations are offered, such as during pregnancy, infancy, adolescence and other times throughout your life, and where they'll be given.
Immunisation and vaccines
On this page
Immunisation is one of the most successful and cost-effective health interventions ever introduced. Every year, 3 million lives are saved world-wide from diseases such as tetanus, measles, polio, and diphtheria.
Immunisation refers to the process of receiving a vaccine and as a result of this, becoming immune to a disease. Vaccination is the process of receiving a vaccine i.e. receiving the injection, or taking an oral or nasal dose.
Getting vaccinated is the most effective way to protect yourself against serious illness.
Important: Spring 2026 COVID-19 booster vaccinations
Appointments for spring COVID-19 booster vaccinations have begun. NHS Scotland will contact you, if you are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Please wait to be contacted.
If you do not wish to attend your NHS Scotland scheduled appointment, please let us know so that we can cancel your appointment and offer a place to someone else.
Important: May and June 2026 drop-in clinics for RSV, PPV and shingles vaccines
Drop-in vaccination clinics for RSV vaccinations, Pneumococcal (PPV) vaccinations and Shingles vaccinations are available in May and June at the Inverness Vaccination Centre in the Eastgate Shopping Centre.
Clinics are open during the hours of 08.45 to 12.15 and 13.00 to 16.15 on:
- Tuesday 12 May 2026
- Wednesday 13 May
- Friday 15 May
- Monday 18 May
- Wednesday 20 May
- Thursday 21 May
- Tuesday 26 May
- Wednesday 27 May
- Thursday 28 May
- Friday 29 May
- Monday 01 June
- Wednesday 03 June
- Thursday 04 June
- Friday 05 June
No appointment needed but vaccinations are only available for eligible patients. All attendees will be screened for eligibility on arrival. If you have received or made a later appointment at any vaccination clinic, you can still attend an earlier drop-in clinic. Just tell staff about your later appointment, which can be cancelled.
Important: Vaccination appointments on 15 June public holiday
NHS Highland's Vaccination Service will be open as normal on the World Cup public holiday on Monday 15 June 2026 - all vaccination appointments scheduled on that day will be going ahead. If you have received an appointment, please attend as invited in your letter, SMS or email.
Read about the Online service for vaccination appointments and see Help by phone or email.
Important: Routine child immunisation
If your child is due a vaccination as part of their routine immunisation schedule, and you haven't already received a letter, please call us to book a convenient appointment.
Vaccinations
About our vaccination programmes.
Vaccinations provided
For young children, the elderly and those who are most vulnerable to coronavirus (COVID-19) and the flu, NHS Highland provide vaccination programmes. Millions of children and adults are offered the flu vaccine every autumn. Since the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, there has also been the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination programme.
If you are at higher risk, you may be contacted directly by NHS Scotland to book an appointment with your local vaccination service.
In the UK, we are fortunate that we can also offer protection against:
- several infections that cause meningitis and septicaemia
- HPV, which can lead to cervical cancer
- rotavirus, which causes diarrhoea and can lead to dehydration and hospital admission
If you are travelling outside of the UK, it is a good idea to seek information on which vaccinations are required and available before arranging travel plans.
Important: Local immunisation advice
To speak to someone about local immunisation programmes or for further advice and information, please contact a member of the NHS Highland Health Protection Team.
How are vaccination services delivered in Highland?
March 2025
Scottish Government has agreed that we can use local flexibility on an exceptional basis to deliver vaccinations in the Highland Council area, including commissioning GP practices where agreed and appropriate. This approval is for specific services and practices only and does not offer blanket flexibility.
This is a fantastic opportunity to create a new way of delivering vaccinations that works for Highland.
The proposal is to develop a mixed model of vaccination delivery, collaborating with GPs and other partners to make it as accessible as possible. It is proposed that GPs lead delivery of childhood (pre-school) vaccinations, with NHS Highland vaccination teams leading on school-age vaccinations. Adult vaccination programmes will principally be delivered collaboratively by NHS Highland vaccination teams and with General Practice.
The exact model is now being developed and a vaccination implementation group has been convened to support this.