1 Summary

• A total of 251,685 COVID-19 vaccinations were administered during the Autumn/Winter COVID-19 vaccination programme, which commenced on 07 October 2024 and ended on 28 February 2025.
• Uptake of COVID-19 vaccinations was highest in individuals aged 65 years and over and care home residents.
• Vaccine uptake was highest in Ards and North Down and Lisburn and Castlereagh Local Government Districts (LGD) in eligible adult cohorts reported by LGD; 65 years and over and 18-64 years ‘at risk’, respectively. Vaccine uptake was lowest in Mid Ulster for the same eligible groups.
• Vaccine uptake in 2024/25 was lower in most eligible groups compared to the previous programme in 2023/24. Vaccine uptake improved in those aged 18-64 years ‘at risk’ in 2024/25 compared to 2023/24.

2 COVID-19 Autumn Vaccination Programme 2024/25

The COVID-19 Autumn/Winter Vaccination Programme commenced in Northern Ireland on 07 October 2024 and ended on 28 February 2025. The programme was delivered by a number of providers including GP, community pharmacy and Health and Social Care Trusts. The total number of vaccinations administered during the programme was 251,685. COVID-19 Autumn vaccine uptake in 2024/25 was highest in care home residents (73.5%) and those aged 65 years and over (55.6%) (Figure 2.1).

Figure 2.1: COVID-19 Autumn vaccination uptake by eligible group in Northern Ireland, 2024/25.

3 Vaccine uptake in eligible adults

Vaccine uptake in most eligible adult groups decreased since 2022/23. Vaccine uptake improved in individuals aged 18-64 years ‘at risk’, increasing from 12.8% in 2023/24 to 22.7% in 2024/25. Recording of ‘at risk’ eligibility criteria improved in 2024/25. Vaccine uptake remained highest in care home residents since 2022/23, however uptake has declined during this time from 82% in 2022/23 to 73.5% in 2024/25 (Figure 3.1).

Figure 3.1: COVID-19 Autumn vaccination uptake in eligible adults in Northern Ireland, 2022/23 to 2024/25.

3.1 65 years and over

3.1.1 65 years and over by Local Government District

Vaccine uptake in individuals aged 65 years and over varied by LGD. Vaccine uptake was highest in Ards and North Down (68.3%) and lowest in Mid Ulster (36%) (Figure 3.2).

Figure 3.2: COVID-19 Autumn vaccination uptake in individuals aged 65 years and older by Local Government District in Northern Ireland, 2024/25.

3.1.2 65 years and over by age band

Vaccine uptake in individuals aged 65 years and over improved with increasing age. Vaccine uptake increased from 45.9% in those aged 65-69 years to 68.4% in those aged 80 years and over (Figure 3.3).

Figure 3.3: COVID-19 Autumn vaccination uptake in individuals aged 65 years and older by age band in Northern Ireland, 2024/25.

3.2 18-64 years ‘at risk’

3.2.1 18-64 years ‘at risk’ by Local Government District

Vaccine uptake in individuals aged 18-64 years ‘at risk’ varied by LGD. Vaccine uptake was highest in Lisburn and Castlereagh (32.4%) and lowest in Mid Ulster (13.1%) (Figure 3.4).

Figure 3.4: COVID-19 Autumn vaccination uptake in individuals aged 18 to 64 years ‘at risk’ by Local Government District in Northern Ireland, 2024/25.

3.2.2 18-64 years ‘at risk’ by age band

Vaccine uptake in individuals aged 18-64 years ‘at risk’ improved with increasing age. Vaccine uptake increased from 8.3% in those aged 18-24 years to 35.1% in those aged 60-64 year (Figure 3.5).

Figure 3.5: COVID-19 Autumn vaccination uptake in individuals aged 18 to 64 years ‘at risk’ by age band in Northern Ireland, 2024/25

3.3 Care Home residents

Vaccine uptake in care home residents was relatively similar across Health and Social Care (HSC) Trust area; ranging from 66.3% in Western HSC Trust (WHSCT) to 80.6% in South Eastern HSC Trust (SEHSCT) (Figure 3.6).

Figure 3.6: COVID-19 Autumn vaccination uptake in care home residents by Trust in Northern Ireland, 2024/25.

4 Vaccine uptake in eligible health and social care workers

Individuals may have more than one eligibility criteria for vaccination, however most will only have one reason for vaccination recorded on VMS. This particularly impacts estimates of vaccine uptake in health and social care workers, including care home staff. Estimated vaccine uptake in eligible health and social care workers has decreased since 2022/23. Estimated vaccine uptake in frontline Trust-employed health and social care workers decreased from 16.6% in 2023/24 to 11.5% in 2024/25. Estimated vaccine uptake decreased in care home staff in 2024/25 (2.6%) compared to 2023/24 (6.2%) (Figure 4.1).

Figure 4.1: COVID-19 Autumn vaccination uptake in health and social care workers in Northern Ireland, 2022/23 to 2024/25.

4.1 Frontline Trust-employed health and social care workers

4.1.1 Frontline Trust-employed health and social care workers by Trust

In the Autumn/Winter 2024/25 programme, whilst not a formal JCVI recommendation, the offer of COVID-19 vaccination was continued for frontline health and social care workers and care home staff in Northern Ireland. Further information on eligibility criteria is included in Section 5: Eligibility for vaccinations. Estimated vaccine uptake in frontline Trust-employed health and social care workers varied by HSC Trust. Uptake was highest in SEHSCT (15.5%) and Belfast HSC Trust (BHSCT) (14.6%). Uptake was lower but similar in Northern HSC Trust (NHSCT), Southern HSC Trust (SHSCT) and Western HSC Trust (WHSCT). The lowest vaccine uptake was reported in Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) (2.4%) (Figure 4.2).

Figure 4.2: COVID-19 Autumn vaccination uptake in frontline Trust-employed health and social care workers by Trust in Northern Ireland, 2024/25.

4.1.2 Frontline Trust-employed health and social care workers by job role

Estimated vaccine uptake by job role is based on the five HSC Trusts in Northern Ireland. Estimated vaccine uptake in frontline Trust-employed health and social care workers differed by job role with uptake highest in Medical & Dental job roles (42.5%) and lowest in Social Services job roles (4.1%) (Figure 4.3).

Figure 4.3: COVID-19 Autumn vaccination uptake in frontline Trust-employed health and social care workers by job role in Northern Ireland, 2024/25.

5 Eligibility for vaccinations

The Green Book is published by UK Health Security Agency and provides information for public health professionals on immunisation, including COVID-19 vaccination (The Green Book | Immunisation againist infectious disease). Considering this advice and that of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the Chief Medical Officer in Northern Ireland issues a letter for the COVID-19 Autumn programme outlining who is eligible for vaccination under the current programme. For more information on the vaccination programmes in Northern Ireland, including eligibility for vaccination, please visit Health NI | COVID-19 Autumn Vaccination Programme 2024.

6 Methods

Data presented to the end of the COVID-19 Autumn vaccination programme, 28 February 2025.

All vaccinations were recorded on the Northern Ireland Vaccine Management System (VMS).

Data was accurate at the time of extraction, 28 May 2025. Data lags exist between date of administration of the vaccine and date of recording on VMS.

Eligible groups were not mutually exclusive and individuals may be counted in more than one group. Individuals may have more than one eligibility criteria for vaccination, however most will only have one reason for vaccination recorded on VMS. This will impact estimates of vaccine uptake.

7 Supplementary tables

Table 1: Number of COVID-19 Autumn vaccinations and cumulative vaccination uptake by eligible group in Northern Ireland, 2024/25.

Table 2: Number of COVID-19 Autumn vaccinations and cumulative vaccination uptake eligible adults in Northern Ireland, 2022/23 to 2024/25.

Table 3: Number of COVID-19 vaccinations and cumulative vaccination uptake in individuals aged 65 years and over by Local Government District in Northern Ireland, 2024/25.

Table 4: Number of COVID-19 vaccinations and cumulative vaccination uptake in individuals aged 65 years and over by age band in Northern Ireland, 2024/25.

Table 5: Number of COVID-19 vaccinations and cumulative vaccination uptake in individuals aged 18 to 64 years ‘at risk’ by Local Government District in Northern Ireland, 2024/25.

Table 6: Number of COVID-19 vaccinations and cumulative vaccination uptake in individuals aged 18 to 64 years by age band in Northern Ireland, 2024/25.

Table 7: Number of COVID-19 vaccinations and cumulative vaccination uptake in care home residents by Trust in Northern Ireland, 2024/25.

Table 8: Number of COVID-19 vaccinations and cumulative vaccination uptake in health and social care workers in Northern Ireland, 2022/23 to 2024/25.

Table 9: Number of COVID-19 vaccinations and cumulative vaccination uptake in frontline Trust-employed health and social care workers by Trust in Northern Ireland, 2024/25.

Table 10: Number of COVID-19 vaccinations and cumulative vaccination uptake in frontline Trust-employed health and social care workers by job role in Northern Ireland, 2024/25.