The Public Health Agency (PHA) has taken the decision to bring forward the start date of this year’s autumn flu and COVID-19 vaccination programmes to 18 September 2023. This is a precautionary measure following the identification of a new COVID-19 variant. This decision comes following scientists from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) examining the variant BA.2.86, which was first detected in the UK on Friday 18 August. While BA.2.86 is not currently classified as a variant of concern, advice from the UKHSA suggests that starting the autumn vaccine programme sooner will deliver greater

Health and Social Care Trusts and PHA have worked in partnership to develop a campaign to encourage people across Northern Ireland to embrace and demonstrate the theme: Creating Hope, Through Action. The campaign will run from 11 th September -9 th October 2023 to mark the period between World Suicide Prevention Day and World Mental Health Day. This year we are calling on people to ‘Walk & Talk’. Embracing the Take 5 messages to ‘Be Active’ and ‘Connect’. Below are some resources for promoting Walk and Talk events on your social media and some suggested text you could include on your post. You

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging people who are eligible to avail of the mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) vaccinations at Foyle Pride on Saturday 26 August. A team of healthcare professionals from the PHA, vaccinators from the South Eastern Health and Social Care (HSC) Trust and GUM clinic nursing staff from the Western HSC Trust will be in place in the Guildhall Square, with the main Pride parade scheduled to take place at around 2pm from Waterside Railway Station. Dr Gillian Armstrong, Health Protection Consultant at the PHA, said: “We are strongly encouraging those attending this

The Public Health Agency (PHA) has announced plans to roll out the shingles vaccine to even more people from September 2023. This will give more older people and those with a weaker immune system protection against shingles which can be an extremely painful condition and complications can be long-lasting. The vaccine is currently only available to those 70 and over but from 1 September 2023, anyone who is severely immunosuppressed and aged 50 and over will be able to get two doses of the Shingrix vaccine. Those aged 65 and 70 on 1 September will also be able to get the vaccine, in addition to

With young people set to receive their exam results, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging parents and guardians to talk to them now about risks of drinking alcohol and taking drugs. Thousands of teenagers will receive their A-level and GCSE results over the next week and often following these occasions we can see excessive drinking or drug taking, so it is important that everyone is aware of the risks, even those who have drunk alcohol or taken drugs previously. Kevin Bailey, Regional Lead for Drugs and Alcohol at the PHA, said: “Parents can make the first move and talk honestly and

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding parents of children who will be entering year 9 in September that they will be offered the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine during the first school term. This year teenagers will only require a single HPV jab, following updated advice from Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The change reflects evidence building up over recent years from a range of studies from around the world that shows that a single dose of the HPV vaccine offers robust protection that is comparable to two doses. Based on the evidence, other countries, such

The Public Health Agency (PHA) has today launched a new service for young people to improve their sexual health and wellbeing and help reduce the number of new sexually transmitted infections (STI) diagnoses in Northern Ireland. Barbara Porter, Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement Manager at the PHA, said: “The ‘C-Card Scheme’ is a confidential sexual health service for young people aged 16-25 years old. "Once registered, each young person will receive a ‘credit card-style card’ that will enable them to avail of free condoms and lubricant, information support and advice at convenient times