The Public Health Agency (PHA) has launched this year’s childhood flu vaccination programme, reminding parents how important it is that their child receives the vaccine, which will help protect against the disease and reduce its spread.​ The vaccine changes each year to cover the strains which are likely to be prevalent over the course of the flu season, so it’s important that children get immunised annually. All pre-school children aged two years and over on 1 September 2015, and those in primaries one to seven, will be offered the flu vaccine as part of the programme.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging everyone in Northern Ireland to say “I do” when it comes to their organ donation wishes and tell their family and friends that they want to be a donor. The call coincides with National Transplant Awareness Week, which runs from 7–13 September, under the theme of ‘Seven days to say “Yes I donate”’.

A new vaccine which helps prevent meningitis B is being offered to babies from today [1 September] as part of the routine childhood vaccination programme. The vaccine is available to babies born on or after 1 July 2015 and doses are given at two months old, four months old and a booster when the child is one year old. The Men B vaccine will help protect your baby against infection by meningococcal group B bacteria, which can cause meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning).

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is today launching a 12-week public consultation on the future of the Lifeline crisis response service. The current Lifeline service is a free-to-call regional confidential telephone helpline for people who are in emotional crisis and are at risk of self-harm or suicide. The helpline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. The current Lifeline service was commissioned in 2012 by the PHA as part of a range of measures to tackle suicide under the Protect Life suicide prevention strategy.

As the new school year approaches, parents are being encouraged to think about what they pack in their children’s lunchboxes and to choose a healthier option for the best start to the school year. The message from the Public Health Agency (PHA) for those preparing the packed lunch and snack for break is to steer clear of sugary drinks and snacks high in added sugar, fat and salt, and to remember that children only need kid-sized portions.