Festive routines may change, safe sleep shouldn’t: PHA advice for parents

As temperatures drop and routines change during the festive period, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding parents and guardians that following safer sleep advice is essential to reduce the risk of sudden infant death. Emily Roberts, Director of Nursing at the Public Health Agency, said: "The festive period can bring extra challenges – colder weather, busier homes and alternative sleeping arrangements. While it’s natural to want to keep your baby warm and comfortable, it’s important to remember safe sleeping advice. Adding extra blankets or sharing a bed for warmth can increase risks.

Immunisation for babies up to a year old

This leaflet describes the vaccines given to babies up to a year old and includes the complete routine childhood immunisation schedule from January 2026. 

This leaflet describes the vaccines given to babies up to a year old and includes the complete routine childhood immunisation schedule from January 2026. 

Immunisation for children aged 18 months

This leaflet is for parents of children due their vaccines aged 18 months and includes information on the complete childhod immunisation schedule from January 2026.

This leaflet is for parents of children due their vaccines aged 18 months and includes information on the complete childhod immunisation schedule from January 2026.

A visual guide to vaccines

This poster is a visual guide to vaccines used in the childhood immunisation programme in Northern Ireland from January 2026 aimed at healthcare professionals.

This poster is a visual guide to vaccines used in the childhood immunisation programme in Northern Ireland from January 2026 aimed at healthcare professionals.

The complete routine immunisation schedule from 1 January 2026 for healthcare professionals

This factsheet for healthcare professionals summarises the complete childhood immunisation schedule in Northern Ireland from January 2026.

This factsheet for healthcare professionals summarises the complete routine immunisation schedule in Northern Ireland from 1 July 2025. 

Check the halls: home accident prevention this Christmas

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is asking parents and carers to be aware of the extra safety risks for children and young people across the festive season and to take steps to help ensure everyone can enjoy the excitement, decorations, and celebrations safely. Emily Roberts, Director of Nursing at the PHA, said: “No one wants any child to be placed in danger or at risk, but the reality is accidents do happen. Children under five are particularly vulnerable, with five common hazards – choking, suffocation and strangulation; falls; poisoning; burns and scalds; and drowning – accounting for 90% of

Ready, set, Ro! Rosetta Primary School step into Christmas

Rosetta Primary School in Belfast brought festive cheer to the playground as pupils took part in The Daily Mile Santa Run, joining thousands of children across Northern Ireland and beyond for fun, fresh air, and physical activity. The event, in partnership with The Daily Mile Network Northern Ireland, the Public Health Agency (PHA), Education Authority and Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, encouraged schools to combine fun with fitness and highlight the benefits of being active both inside and outside the classroom. Dr Hannah McCourt, Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement Manager at PHA, said: “It was

Call to get flu vaccine ahead of Christmas

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging everyone who is eligible for flu vaccination to take up the offer without delay as it remains the best defence against seasonal flu. To date nearly 500,000 vaccines have been administered this season in Northern Ireland. However, the latest respiratory report shows that flu activity has increased across all groups and settings that are monitored. Confirmed cases rose from 988 to 1,227 while hospital admissions went from 264 to 346, highlighting how important it is for people who are eligible to get the free vaccine, particularly ahead of festive

RSV vaccination for older adults in Northern Ireland: end of programme year report 2024/25

11 December 2025

The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programme for older adults was introduced in Northern Ireland on 1 September 2024. This report details vaccine uptake during the first year (2024/25) of the vaccination programme for older adults, from 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2025.

The Public Health Agency encourages everyone to talk about organ donation

Thursday 11 December is Organ Donation Discussion Day, when the Public Health Agency is encouraging everyone to consider their decision around organ and tissue donation, and to share this decision with their loved ones. As Christmas approaches, it is often a time to catch up with friends and family and our minds turn to gifts, but there’s one very special gift that we could all consider – the ‘gift of life’ through organ donation. Each year, hundreds of lives across the UK are saved and transformed by organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Organ donation is a most precious gift, and
Subscribe to