The Public Health Agency (PHA) is launching a new routine shingles vaccination programme, available from 1 October, for all people aged 70 and a catch-up programme for people aged 79 years old to help protect against the common and painful skin disease.

Now that autumn is underway, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding parents of primary six children who are in the first phase of the childhood flu programme to avail of the flu vaccine. This year the vaccine will be offered to school year primary six as well as children aged two and three years. The vaccine will help protect children against flu and reduce its spread. School nurses will be administering the flu vaccine to primary six children at schools across Northern Ireland from the beginning of October 2013.

This is sexual health week and the Public Health Agency (PHA) is stressing the importance of looking after sexual health by urging people who are sexually active to takes steps to protect themselves and their partner by being safer and using condoms.

A conference in Armagh today highlighted two new diabetes services introduced over the past 3 years, with funding provided by the European Union’s INTERRERG IVA programme, which are proving to be a great success. The first service, called the CHOICE programme is for children and young people who have diabetes. The second service is specifically for women planning pregnancy who attend Pre-pregnancy Care clinics in their local areas.

As students return to colleges and universities the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding students during Meningitis Awareness Week (16-22 September) to be aware of the signs and symptoms of meningitis as it could save a life. Teenagers and young adults (14 - 24 years old) are more at risk than older adults, especially when away from home with no parents around to look after them.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is aware that a healthcare worker who had worked in Maternity and Gynaecology hospitals throughout the UK has been diagnosed with hepatitis C infection. Although the risk of acquiring hepatitis C in this situation is very low, a ‘look back’ patient notification exercise is being undertaken.

The damaging impact smoking has on families is being highlighted in Northern Ireland’s new campaign to tackle smoking prevalence, which was launched today by the Public Health Agency (PHA). Smoking is the single greatest cause of preventable illness, premature death and health inequality throughout Northern Ireland and 2,300 people die prematurely each year from smoking-related illnesses such as coronary heart disease, stroke and many cancers.