Immunisation and vaccines
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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 becoming immune to a disease as a result of a vaccination. Vaccination is the process of receiving a vaccine by injection, or as an oral or nasal dose.
Getting vaccinated is an effective way to protect yourself against serious illness.
Important: Spring 2026 COVID-19 booster vaccinations
We are offering some COVID vaccination drop-in clinics during June 2026 for eligible people.
NHS Scotland will contact you, if you're eligible for a COVID-19 booster vaccination.
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.
If you have a family member that you think may be eligible, please direct them to contact us to arrange an appointment.
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, septicaemia or sepsis
- 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.
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.
Important: Local vaccination and immunisation advice
For enquiries about individual vaccination appointments, use the contact details given on the relevant vaccination page.
For enquiries about local immunisation programmes or related advice, please contact the NHS Highland Health Protection Team.