Vaccination coverage
What is vaccination coverage?
Vaccination coverage refers to the number of people who receive vaccines as part of different immunisation programmes. These programmes help protect individuals and communities from serious disease.
Vaccination programmes include:
- pre-school children - early childhood,
- school-aged children - vaccinations given in schools,
- pregnant individuals - vaccines to protect both parent and baby.
Tracking vaccination coverage helps monitor the impact of vaccines, identify trends, and improve public health outcomes.
Annual immunisation reports
The Annual Immunisation Reports provide detailed information on vaccination programmes, including:
- coverage rates across different age groups,
- trends in vaccine uptake,
- the impact of immunisation programmes on public health.
These reports help health professionals and policymakers assess the effectiveness of vaccines and make improvements where needed.
Vaccination coverage reports by types of vaccination programmes:
Pre-school vaccination
COVER programme
The Cover of Vaccination Evaluated Rapidly (COVER) programme evaluates childhood immunisation in the UK, collating data quarterly and annually for children aged 1, 2 and 5 years.
Vaccination coverage statistics are prepared each quarter and at the end of each financial year from the Northern Ireland Child Health System.
Details on the childhood immunisation programme can be found on NI Direct.
Vaccination coverage for the completed primary vaccination programme is assessed when the child is aged 1 and 2 years. Children are scheduled to receive additional vaccinations at 3-5 years of age, therefore vaccine coverage is also measured at 5 years of age.
Click on the links below to access the latest data
Northern Ireland vaccination coverage 12 months of age Oct_Dec 2024
Northern Ireland vaccination coverage 24 months of age Oct_Dec 2024
Northern Ireland vaccination coverage 5 years of age Oct_Dec 2024
School based vaccination
HPV Immunisation Programme
The HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine is offered to girls and boys aged 12 to 13 years old to help protect them against HPV-related cancers. HPV vaccination was introduced for girls in September 2008 and for boys from September 2019. Further information on the HPV vaccine for adolescents aged 12 to 13 years can be found on NI Direct.
Annual HPV vaccination coverage statistics are prepared from the Northern Ireland Child Health System.
Click here for the latest annual Northern Ireland HPV vaccination data
Click here to view UKHSA HPV vaccine uptake data
School Leavers Booster and MenACWY Immunisation Programme
The School Leavers Booster and MenACWY vaccines are offered to girls and boys in years 11 and 12 to help protect them against Meningococcal disease, tetanus, diphtheria and polio. In 2015 the MenACWY vaccine replaced the Men C vaccination given annually in school to all pupils in year 11. Further information on these vaccines for adolescents in years 11 and 12 can be found on NI Direct.
Annual School Leavers Booster and MenACWY vaccination coverage statistics are prepared from the Northern Ireland Child Health System.
Click here for the latest annual Northern Ireland School Leavers Booster, MenACWY vaccination data
Click here to view UKHSA School Leavers Booster, MenACWY and MMR2 vaccine uptake data
Previous annual Northern Ireland HPV vaccination data
Pregnancy vaccination
Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine in pregnancy programme
The pertussis vaccine is offered at 16 weeks of gestation until delivery. Since August 2017, uptake of pertussis vaccine in pregnancy has been monitored with data extracted from the Northern Ireland Maternity Administrative System (NIMATS), a regional electronic information system that records maternal and neonatal information at delivery.
Further information on pertussis vaccination in pregnancy can be found on NI Direct.
Click here for the latest Northern Ireland pertussis vaccination coverage in pregnancy
Click here to view UKHSA pertussis vaccination in pregnancy coverage
Seasonal vaccination
Seasonal influenza vaccination programme
Every year the Chief Medical Officer in Northern Ireland issues a letter outlining the seasonal influenza vaccination programme in Northern Ireland, available at HSS(MD) Letters and urgent communications | Department of Health. The seasonal flu vaccine programme aims to provide protection to those at higher risk of influenza associated morbidity and mortality, and to reduce transmission of infection to all age groups through the vaccination of children. Individuals eligible for flu vaccination are based on the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI). The flu vaccines in use in Northern Ireland are based on recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO) who continually monitor circulating strains of influenza viruses worldwide. The seasonal flu vaccine is available through Autumn and Winter each year. Further information on the seasonal flu vaccine can be found on NI Direct.
COVID-19 booster vaccination programme
The COVID-19 pandemic vaccine programme was initiated in Northern Ireland in December 2020. The COVID-19 vaccination programme is transitioning towards a longer-term more sustainable programme with the aim of reducing severe disease. The JCVI continue to adapt their advice on individuals eligible for vaccination. Currently COVID-19 vaccination is available twice during the year, Autumn/Winter and Spring. The Chief Medical Officer Northern Ireland issues a letter outlining the programme in Northern Ireland, available at HSS(MD) Letters and urgent communications | Department of Health.
More information on COVID vaccine can be found on NI Direct.
Latest reports: