This Sun Awareness Week [6-12 May], the Public Health Agency (PHA) and Cancer Focus Northern Ireland are encouraging everyone to be UV aware and get the best from your sunscreen to help reduce your risk of skin cancer. Dr Louise Herron, Deputy Director of Public Health at the PHA, said: “As the days begin to get brighter, many of us will be keen to spend some time outside in the sun. While sunlight is important for our overall health and wellbeing, too much UV radiation from the sun can cause damage to the skin and lead to skin cancer. The majority of all skin cancers are preventable by

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding everyone ahead of World Hand Hygiene Day on the 5 May of the need to clean your hands thoroughly and regularly on days out with the family, particularly when visiting open farms. Caroline McGeary, Senior Infection Prevention and Control Nurse at the PHA, said: “The spring and summer months are a great time to visit open farms, but we want people to have pleasant memories, so it’s important for the whole family to practise good personal hygiene by washing your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and hot running water when visiting these places.

Today is the start of Global Intergenerational Week (24-30 April) which aims to support the growth of links between young and older people to have a positive impact on health and wellbeing. Involving over 15 countries, the week aims to promote intergenerational practices, help to combat a range of issues, including ageism, loneliness and social isolation, and to inspire and grow an age-friendly society connecting older and younger people. Since 2015 the Public Health Agency (PHA) has funded small grants schemes managed by Linking Generations Northern Ireland (LGNI) to help achieve these goals

This World Immunisation Week [24-30 April] the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding parents that vaccination should remain a priority, particularly in light of the increase in whooping cough and measles cases. World Immunisation Week aims to highlight the collective action needed to improve vaccination uptake and promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease. Louise Flanagan, Consultant in Public Health at the PHA, said: “Ensuring that vaccination remains a top priority is vital if we are to protect our children. Both measles and whooping cough have experienced a

Ahead of World Immunisation Week 2025 the Public Health Agency (PHA) has launched a digital creator and poster competition for aspiring creatives from primary school pupils up to college/university students. World Immunisation Week is celebrated on 24-30 April 2025 and aims to highlight the collective action needed to improve vaccination uptake and promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease. Immunisation is the safest and most effective way of protecting against serious diseases. Many childhood diseases that were common here prior to the introduction of

The COVID-19 spring booster vaccination programme gets under way today [Monday 15 April], giving the more vulnerable members of our community the opportunity to top up their protection ahead of any potential waves of COVID-19 over the coming months. This year’s spring booster will be offered to: adults aged 75 years old or over; residents in a care home for older adults; individuals aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed. Dr Joanne McClean, Director of Public Health at the PHA, said: “COVID-19 infection can cause more serious illness in older people and in people with certain

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging parents and guardians to talk to young people about the dangers of vaping unknown substances as it could make them seriously ill or even be fatal. The PHA is focussing in particular on the dangers of vaping ‘Spice’, a synthetic drug which mimics the effects of cannabis. Spice is a nickname for a substance containing one or more of a group of drugs called synthetic cannabinoids. Kevin Bailey, Regional Lead for Drugs and Alcohol at the PHA, said: “Synthetic cannabinoids are relatively new drugs and evidence is still coming out about harms associated with