The COVER programme monitors immunisation coverage data for children in the UK who reach their first, second or fifth birthday during each evaluation quarter.
Vaccination coverage statistics are prepared each quarter from the Northern Ireland Child Health System.
Vaccination coverage for the completed primary vaccination programme is assessed when the child is 12 and 24 months of age. Children are routinely scheduled at 2, 3 and 4 months of age for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine (DTaP/IPV/Hib), meningococcal serogroup C conjugate vaccine (MenC) and pneumococal vaccine (PCV).
A booster dose of Hib and MenC vaccine (given as a combined Hib/MenC vaccine) is scheduled at around 12 months, and measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) and PCV booster vaccine at around 13 months.
Children are scheduled to receive preschool (aged 3-5 years), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio (DTaP/IPV) booster vaccine and second dose MMR vaccine. Therefore, vaccine coverage is also measured at the child's fifth birthday.
Data - December 2012