Central Vaccination Service (CVS)
NHS Tayside RefGuide
Who to refer
Referral for out of schedule vaccinations: Referral Pathway for Out of Schedule/ Emergency Vaccinations
Anyone who has recently become clinically eligible for routine vaccinations (e.g. Flu, Pneumococcal, Shingles, Covid) due to a health condition or treatment but has not received a routine appointment.
Who not to refer
Patients requesting Yellow Fever Vaccination
Suspected rabies exposure: see Rabies Referral Pathway
People requesting occupational vaccines for work purposes. Employers should provide appropriate occupational health services for their staff. NHS Tayside staff-members can self-refer via the NHS Occupational Health Team (tay.occhealth@nhs.scot)
How to refer
Professional ONLY e-mail enquiries:
Emergency post exposure prophylaxis vaccinations (e.g. Tetanus, Hepatitis B) Referral Pathway for Out of Schedule/ Emergency Vaccinations
Out of schedule vaccine enquiries to tay.vaccinationservice@nhs.scot
Public Enquiries for all vaccines:
Please refer all general public enquires to tay.cvs@nhs.scot or Telephone 01382 423108
Travel vaccination enquiries to tay.travelvaccines@nhs.scot
Service description
The objective of the NHS Tayside Vaccination Service is to provide a safe, person-centred, comprehensive, consistent and accessible vaccination service for people throughout Tayside.
Tayside’s Vaccination Services deliver all NHS vaccines recommended by Public Health Scotland in line with the Scottish Government directions to all eligible people across the Health Board area.
Alongside NHS Tayside’s dedicated vaccination teams for adults and children, the vaccination programme extends across all services such as Maternity, Paediatrics and Sexual & Reproductive Health. These programmes include outreach provision for care home residents and people who require to be visited at home or other community settings for vaccination. All specialist services work closely with the core vaccination teams for any programmes which are targeted to specific demographics or risk groups.
Since the implementation of the Scottish Vaccination Transformation Programme, GPs are no longer responsible for the provision of vaccinations. Most vaccinations (unless specific local arrangement in place) are now delivered by the NHS Tayside Central Vaccination Service (CVS) or Childhood Immunisation Service.
Tayside Central Vaccination Service (CVS)
This service is managed by the Directorate of Public Health and provides the majority of all adult vaccinations, as well as some selective children’s programmes.
Nurse led clinics operate from 3 central sites – Dundee City, Perth City and Forfar (Angus). The central clinics are supported by outreach clinics to assist with travel and access for all where possible. For eligible citizens, home visits are organised and we routinely visit other facilities such as Care Homes for older adults. As well as Mon-Fri weekday clinics, we occasionally offer out of hours and weekends, these are communicated on social media. There are regular updates on the NHS Tayside website & NHS Tayside Vaccination Programmes & NHS Tayside Facebook pages.
Information on the CVS including clinic details can be obtained via email: tay.cvs@nhs.scot or by telephone: 01382 423108
Childhood Immunisation Service
The NHS Tayside Childhood Immunisation Service is not part of the Central Vaccination Service (CVS). It is managed by the Women, Children & Families Division. It is responsible for delivering the UK routine childhood and school vaccination programmes across Tayside, as well as some catch-up and selective vaccinations The Service delivers primary care facilities across the Health Board area.
The Childhood Immunisation Team is responsible for delivering vaccines in line with the UKHSA Routine Childhood Immunisation Programme and the Scottish School Vaccination Programme (see Routine childhood immunisations schedule from January 2026
To contact the Child Immunisation Team please email: tay.childhoodimmunisation@nhs.scot
Out of Schedule/ Vaccinations Out With National Programmes
Out of Schedule (OOS) or non-routine vaccinations are indicated for children, adults and family groups who have been clinically assessed by a health practitioner (E.g. Nurse, Pharmacist, GP, Consultant) as requiring vaccination out with the routine national programmes/schedules (follow: Referral Pathway for Out of Schedule/ Emergency Vaccinations
Travel Vaccinations
NHS Tayside offers NHS travel vaccines through community vaccination centres managed by the CVS.
These vaccinations are free of charge because they protect against diseases that present the greatest potential risk to public health if brought into the country:
Diphtheria, polio and tetanus (combined booster)
Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Cholera
Information can be accessed by the public at: Travel Vaccinations
The NHS service can also signpost patients to private clinics for travel vaccinations which are available in the UK and recommended for certain destinations but not offered by the NHS:
Japanese encephalitis
Rabies
Tick borne encephalitis
Hepatitis B
Meningococcal
Chikungunya
Malaria
Dengue fever
Tuberculosis (BCG)
Yellow fever
(Yellow fever vaccination can only be administered at designated centres. Centres in Tayside which offer yellow fever vaccination are listed at: Resources for the public - yellow fever vaccination centre )
Individuals can self-refer to the NHS Tayside travel vaccinations service by emailing tay.travelvaccines@nhs.scot or calling 01382 423108 (Mon-Fri 9-5pm).
Alternatively, NHS and non-NHS travel vaccinations can be arranged through a community pharmacy or other private provider, although these will involve charges.
Useful resources