Immunisation/vaccine preventable diseases


MMR catch-up campaign 2024

First and second doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine are being offered until 31 March 2024 to anyone aged between 12 months and 25 years who missed getting the vaccines first time around. Find out more at www.nidirect.gov.uk/mmr

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After clean water, vaccination is the most effective public health intervention in the world for saving lives and promoting good health.

The childhood vaccination programme has been a tremendous success in Northern Ireland over recent years. Our uptake rates are at an all-time high and Northern Ireland has uptake rates well above the UK average.

This is a tremendous tribute to GPs and all their staff, health visitors and everyone else involved in the vaccination programme who have worked so hard to achieve this.

The seasonal flu vaccine programme is also very successful, with Northern Ireland achieving the highest uptake in the UK.

The areas covered by the vaccination team include childhood vaccines, influenza vaccines, travel vaccines, occupational health vaccines, and the surveillance and control of vaccine preventable diseases.

Annual reports

Click here to view the Annual Immunisation and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Reports.

Key areas of ongoing work

  • Maintaining and improving high uptake of the childhood vaccines particularly targeting areas / groups with comparatively low uptake
  • Training of health professionals and students in vaccination programmes
  • Introducing new vaccine programme updates
  • Managing the flu vaccine programme to achieve target uptake rates
  • Building on recently introduced HPV vaccine programme
  • Screening health care workers for measles immunity and vaccinating those not immune
  • Providing advice to health professionals through the duty room
  • Responding to cases of vaccine preventable diseases

 

HPV vaccine for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM)

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is offered to all eligible gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) attending GUM and/or HIV clinics across Northern Ireland. Most of the clinics began offering the HPV vaccine during October 2016 and all clinics have been offering the vaccine since January 2017. 

This is in line with advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which recommends a targeted vaccination programme for GBMSM aged up to 45 who attend GUM and HIV clinics.

Studies have shown that GBMSM aged up to 45 years who attend GUM or HIV clinics are at greater risk of HPV-associated cancers and genital warts. The HPV vaccine helps prevent infection that can cause genital warts and HPV-associated cancers. Vaccination is especially important for GBMSM who have multiple sexual partners.

Download the information leaflet here.

 

Flu training for health professionals

Click here for flu training for health professionals

 

Publications

Vaccine type Information for public Information for healthcare professionals
General professional information  

Green Book

Vaccination of individuals with uncertain or incomplete immunisation status

PHA immunisation resources for health professionals

Childhood immunisation programme: full details

Guidance on vaccine handling and storage in Primary Care including maintenance of the Vaccine Cold Chain

Translated immunisation invitation letters

Immunisations for infants (aged under 1 year) and children (aged 1–2 years)

Includes: Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, hepatitis B, Hib, MMR, Men B, Men C, pneumococcal, rotavirus, BCG, influenza

PHA resources on immunisations for children aged between two months and two years

Childhood immunisation programme 

Pre-school immunisations (aged 2–4 years)

Includes: Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, MMR

PHA resources on immunisations for pre-school children

 

Immunisations for 12–13 year olds

Includes: Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, MenACWY, MMR, HPV 

PHA resources on immunisations for teenagers

PHA resources on HPV vaccine for young people 12-13 years old

Factsheet on MenACWY immunisation for teenagers

Factsheet on HPV vaccine for children in Year 9 and 10

HPV vaccine training slides 2019 15_8_19.pptx

MenACWY

PHA resources on immunisation against meningitis A, C, W and Y

Factsheet on MenACWY immunisation for teenagers
Men B

PHA resources on immunisation against meningitis B

Meningitis B immunisation 

Pertussis (whooping cough)

Includes: Infants, pre-school aged children and pregnant women

PHA resources on immunisation against pertussis (whooping cough)

Pertussis (whooping cough) immunisation

Rotavirus

PHA resources on immunisation against rotavirus

Factsheet on rotavirus immunisation

 

Targeted programmes Information for public Information for healthcare professionals
BCG (tuberculosis) 

PHA resources on immunisation against tuberculosis (TB)

 

Hepatitis B

Includes: Universal hepatitis B programme and hepatitis B vaccine for at risk babies

PHA resources on immunisation against hepatitis B

Clinical guidelines on hepatitis B

Influenza (flu)

Includes: Children, adults, pregnant women and healthcare workers

PHA resources on flu vaccination 

Flu resources for professionals

HPV vaccine

Includes: Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM)

PHA resources on HPV vaccine for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM)

 

Pregnant women

Includes: Flu, pertussis, MMR, hepatitis B and syphilis advice

PHA resources on immunisations for pregnant women  
Shingles PHA resources on shingles vaccination

Factsheet on shingles vaccination

Splenectomy

Includes: MenACWY, pneumococcal, flu

PHA resources on splenectomy

Factsheet on splenectomy

Travel vaccines (National Travel and Health Network, Travax)

NHS advice on travel vaccinations

NATHNAC support for those providing health information to people going travelling

Travel health information from TRAVAX

 

 

Key links

Measles
Meningococcal disease
Pertussis
Rubella
Pneumococcal disease
HIB

Influenza:
Health professionals
General public
General vaccination
Green Book

Travel vaccines sites:
NaTHNaC
Travax


Other Resources:
PHA immunisation training slides - Access for healthcare professionals only
Immunisation leaflets (Northern Ireland)
Vaccination surveillance data
NOIDS surveillance data