1 Summary

• A total of 73,493 COVID-19 vaccinations were administered during the Spring COVID-19 vaccination programme, which commenced on 07 April 2025 and ended on 30 June 2025.
• Uptake of COVID-19 vaccinations was highest in care home residents.
• Vaccine uptake was highest in Ards and North Down Local Government District (LGD) in eligible adult cohorts reported by LGD; 75 years and over and individuals aged 18-74 years who were immunosuppressed. Vaccine uptake was lowest in Mid Ulster for the same eligible groups.
• Vaccine uptake in Spring 2025 was lower compared to previous Spring programmes.

2 COVID-19 Spring Vaccination Programme 2025

The COVID-19 Spring Vaccination Programme commenced in Northern Ireland on 07 April 2025 and ended on 30 June 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 73,493. COVID-19 Spring vaccine uptake in 2025 was highest in care home residents at 67.5% (Figure 2.1).

Figure 2.1: COVID-19 Spring vaccination uptake by eligible group in Northern Ireland, 2025.

3 Vaccine uptake in eligible groups

Vaccine uptake has decreased since Spring 2022 in all eligible groups. Vaccine uptake has remained highest in care home residents; however, uptake has declined during this time from 82.3% in Spring 2022 to 67.5% in 2025. (Figure 3.1).

Figure 3.1: COVID-19 Spring vaccination uptake in eligible groups in Northern Ireland, 2022 to 2025.

3.1 75 years and over

3.1.1 75 years and over by Local Government District

Vaccine uptake in individuals aged 75 years and over varied by LGD. Vaccine uptake was highest in Ards and North Down (56.5%) and Lisburn and Castlereagh (55.8%). Vaccine uptake was lowest in Mid Ulster 28.9%. (Figure 3.2).

Figure 3.2: COVID-19 Spring vaccination uptake in individuals aged 75 years and older by Local Government District in Northern Ireland, 2025.

3.1.2 75 years and over by age band

Vaccine uptake in individuals aged 75 years and over improved with increasing age. Vaccine uptake increased from 37.1% in those aged 75-79 years to 46.4% in those aged 80 years and over (Figure 3.3).

Figure 3.3: COVID-19 Spring vaccination uptake in individuals aged 75 years and older by age band in Northern Ireland, 2025.

3.2 18-74 years immunosuppressed

3.2.1 18-74 years immunosuppressed by Local Government District

Vaccine uptake in individuals aged 18-74 years who were immunosuppressed was highest in Ards and North Down at 33.3% and lowest in Mid Ulster at 9.7% (Figure 3.4).

Figure 3.4: COVID-19 Spring vaccination uptake in individuals aged 18 to 74 years who were immunosuppressed by Local Government District in Northern Ireland, 2025.

3.2.2 18-74 years immunosuppressed by age band

Vaccine uptake in individuals aged 18-74 years who were immunosuppressed improved with increasing age. Vaccine uptake increased from 5.9% in those aged 18-24 years to 38.3% in those aged 70-74 years. (Figure 3.5).

Figure 3.5: COVID-19 Spring vaccination uptake in individuals aged 18 to 74 years who were immunosuppressed by age band in Northern Ireland, 2025.

3.3 Care Home residents

Vaccine uptake in care home residents differed across Health and Social Care (HSC) Trust area. Vaccine uptake was highest in South Eastern HSC Trust (SEHSCT) at 75.1%. Vaccine uptake in care home residents was lowest in Southern HSC Trust (SHSCT) and Western HSC Trust (WHSCT), 59.7% and 60.9% respectively (Figure 3.6).

Figure 3.6: COVID-19 Spring vaccination uptake in care home residents by Trust in Northern Ireland, 2025.

4 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 Spring 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 | Spring 2025 Booster Vaccination Campaign.

5 Methods

Data is presented to the end of the COVID-19 Spring vaccination programme, 30 June 2025.

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

Data is accurate at the time of extraction, 24 July 2025. Data lags exist between date of administration of the vaccine and date of recording on VMS.

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

6 Supplementary tables

Table 1: Number of COVID-19 Spring vaccinations and cumulative vaccination uptake by eligible group in Northern Ireland, 2025.

Table 2: Number of COVID-19 Spring vaccinations and cumulative vaccination uptake eligible groups in Northern Ireland, 2022 to 2025.

Table 3: Number of COVID-19 Spring vaccinations and cumulative vaccination uptake in individuals aged 75 years and over by Local Government District in Northern Ireland, 2025.

Table 4: Number of COVID-19 Spring vaccinations and cumulative vaccination uptake in individuals aged 75 years and over by age band in Northern Ireland, 2025.

Table 5: Number of COVID-19 Spring vaccinations and cumulative vaccination uptake in individuals aged 18 to 74 years who were immunosuppressed by Local Government District in Northern Ireland, 2025.

Table 6: Number of COVID-19 Spring vaccinations and cumulative vaccination uptake in individuals aged 18 to 74 years who were immunosuppressed by age band in Northern Ireland, 2025.

Table 7: Number of COVID-19 Spring vaccinations and cumulative vaccination uptake in care home residents by Trust in Northern Ireland, 2025.