The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging everyone over the age of 18 who has not yet had their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine to do so now, as it’s never been easier. Vaccine uptake is an important means of securing protection against COVID-19 infection. Currently over two million doses have been administered in Northern Ireland since the Department of Health launched the vaccination campaign at the end of 2020, helping to save lives and protect a great many others from serious illness. Maurice Meehan, Head of Health Improvement (Northern area) at the PHA, said: “Getting the vaccine has never

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding anyone choosing to drink for this year’s Twelfth of July that despite it not being the same as other years, nothing has changed when it comes to alcohol. The main message is to keep an eye on your alcohol intake by making a plan of setting a sensible limit and sticking to it. Davis Turkington, Senior Health and Wellbeing Improvement Officer with the PHA, said : “Many will be making plans to celebrate the Twelfth and we are encouraging them to keep an eye on their alcohol intake should they choose to drink. “We understand that it has been a long 16

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging people to stick to key public health advice and exercise caution over the coming days and weeks, particularly with regards to social gatherings. The PHA is aware of a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases emanating from a number of social events in North Down and East Belfast attended by young people last week, but with cases likely to follow in the next few weeks in South Belfast, Hillsborough, Comber, Bangor and the Ards Peninsula through previous and new social links. The PHA is continuing to investigate the circumstances and deploy control measures to

An emotional health and wellbeing programme which has been enjoyed by over 20,000 primary school-aged children in Northern Ireland is this year celebrating its tenth anniversary. The Roots of Empathy programme, which is funded by the Public Health Agency (PHA) and co-ordinated by local health trusts, has been delivered to 306 schools and 22,990 children over the last decade. “Roots of Empathy has been very successful in Northern Ireland,” said Maurice Meehan, the PHA Head of Health and Social Wellbeing (Northern). “It is an evidence-based school programme and Queen’s University research of

The Public Health Agency has identified a number of probable cases of the Delta variant (VOC-21APR-02) in areas of Castlewellan, Co Down, and Derry/Londonderry. These early results are suggestive of the variant but this has not been confirmed. As a precautionary measure we are asking asymptomatic people aged 18-40 years old from selected, targeted neighbourhoods within these areas to get PCR tested. This is so we can identify asymptomatic COVID-19 cases early and reduce the risk of spread in the community. Those being asked to come forward for testing will be contacted by post from tomorrow

The Public Health Agency’s (PHA) surveillance systems are indicating that as of yesterday [Tuesday 22 June 2021], 612 confirmed or probable cases of the Delta variant of COVID-19 have been detected throughout all 11 local council areas in Northern Ireland. This is not a surprising development as we have seen the Delta variant become prominent in other countries across Europe and anticipated that the same would happen here. Latest information shows that around half of COVID-19 positive cases sampled in Northern Ireland are indicative of the of the Delta variant, which isn’t unexpected but shows

The Public Health Agency has identified a number of probable cases of the Delta variant (VOC-21APR-02) in areas of Ballymoney and Omagh. These early results are suggestive of the variant but this has not been confirmed. As a precautionary measure we are asking asymptomatic people to get tested in selected, targeted neighbourhoods within these areas. This is in advance of confirmation of whether a variant is present and so we can identify asymptomatic COVID-19 cases early and reduce the risk of spread in the community. Testing is opening to everyone in these areas over the age of 5 years old