The Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding parents of the importance of their children completing the childhood immunisation programme to help prevent serious disease and illness following a reported increase of whooping cough (pertussis) cases in England and Wales.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging smokers to make a plan, think about what steps they are going to take to stay off tobacco for good, and to seek practical support and advice from a stop smoking service. There is a range of free services available which can provide solid personal advice that will increase your chances of stopping for good.

Now 2012 has arrived, the Public Health Agency is encouraging people to make a New Year’s resolution to know their limits when it comes to alcohol, not to drink excessively and to cut back for a while, especially if the festive period led to a little too much consumption.

The New Year is often seen as a time for new beginnings and starting afresh and it’s great to make a new start. It can also be a challenging time for some, so the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding people of the importance of looking after their own mental health and that of their family and friends in 2012.

Flu is more likely to surface in the winter months and with this in mind the Public Health Agency (PHA) is advising on what action to take if you develop the illness, particularly over the Christmas period.

With the holiday season in full-swing, minds are turning to New Year’s resolutions, and once again quitting smoking will be at the top of many people’s ‘to do’ list when the clock strikes midnight on 31 December. With this in mind, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging smokers to make a plan, think about what steps they are going to take to stay off tobacco for good, and to seek practical support and advice from a stop smoking service.

There has been a 20% increase overall in the uptake of the flu vaccine compared to this time last year, (56,000 more doses) according to the latest provisional figures, but there’s no room for complacency warns the Public Health Agency, PHA.