The Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging 70 and 78 year olds to get the free shingles vaccine when invited. The vaccine helps protect against this common and painful disease and its complications. Each year in Northern Ireland around 1,000 people in their seventies will get shingles. People who were aged 70 or 78 years of age on the 1 September 2019 are eligible to receive the vaccine. Dr Jillian Johnston, Consultant in Health Protection at the PHA, said: “This year just under 30,000 70 and 78 years olds will be eligible for this vaccine. Those who were eligible for the vaccine in

This week is Stress Awareness Week (4th- 8th November). The Public Health Agency (PHA) has organised opportunities for those experiencing stress to participate in stress control classes. These classes are funded by the PHA and delivered by Health and Social Care Trusts across Northern Ireland. Stress is the feeling of being unable to cope as a result of too much mental or emotional pressure. Common signs of stress can include sleeping problems, sweating, loss of appetite and difficulty concentrating. You may feel anxious, irritable, experience racing thoughts, worry constantly or go over

The Public Health Agency (PHA) has been made aware that there is likely to be a delay in the supply of some of the Fluenz Tetra children’s vaccine due to arrive next month. The vaccine is procured by Public Health England on behalf of all of the UK. The delay is due to issues relating to routine testing of the Fluenz Tetra nasal flu vaccine by the manufacturer and is not related to the safety or the efficacy of the vaccine. Work is under way to minimise potential disruption to the childhood flu immunisation programme in Northern Ireland caused by this. In line with the rest of the UK the Chief

The need to put strong partnership working at the centre of public health is the central focus of the Director of Public Health’s Annual Report, published today. Speaking at the launch in Bellaghy, Dr Adrian Mairs, Acting Director of Public Health at the Public Health Agency (PHA), said: “One of the key challenges facing us as a society is health inequality. This is a complex issue that involves many different and interwoven factors, including childhood development, deprivation, the social and physical environment, and education. This means the response needs to be collaborative and results

The Public Health Agency (PHA) has funded Extern to commence a pilot project of a community-based needle exchange service, helping to meet the needs of people who inject. Those who previously used the Boots Needle and Syringe Exchange Scheme (NSES) service will continue to have full access to needle exchange services in Belfast city centre Along with the new community-based pilot project, they will be redirected to other needle exchange community pharmacies in the city centre, and for clients with more complex needs, community-based service providers, including the Belfast Drug Outreach team

Claragh Gibney, a year 9 pupil at St Colman’s, Ballynahinch was diagnosed three years ago with type 1 diabetes after her mum Teresa took her to her GP after noticing a number of symptoms. Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented and occurs when the pancreas is no longer able to produce insulin. It is the most common type of diabetes in children and young adults. Claragh’s mum Teresa explains: “She was a perfectly healthy nine year old. She went to school and attended dance classes; it wasn’t until we went on holidays that she started to get sick. “We noticed her asking for drinks – water, juice or

On Friday 11th October a networking event was held in Seagoe Parish Centre, Portadown. The Public Health Agency (PHA), Southern Health & Social Care Trust, Councils (Armagh Banbridge Craigavon, Newry Mourne and Down and Mid Ulster) and the Protect Life Community & Voluntary Forum came together to organise and participate in the promotional event. The aim of the event was to provide an opportunity for those working to promote positive mental health in the Southern area to raise awareness of the various services available in their locality and connect and support eachother. Participants heard

Experts from across Europe will meet in Belfast this week to discuss collaboration and development in an innovative area of healthcare known as personalised medicine. Personalised medicine aims to shift treatment from a ‘one size fits all’ approach to one which targets treatments and therapies to the individual needs of each patient, securing better outcomes and more effective prevention. Dr Michael McBride, Chief Medical Officer, said: “Here in Northern Ireland, personalised medicine is an area of substantial and rapidly increasing focus. A growing population with a higher number of older