COVID-19 Autumn/Winter Vaccination Surveillance in Northern Ireland 2024/25
PHA Vaccine Surveillance team
20 May 2025
1 Summary
- A total of 251,685 COVID-19 vaccinations were administered during the Autumn/Winter COVID-19 vaccination programme, which commenced on 07 October 2024 and ended on 28 February 2025.
- Uptake of COVID-19 vaccinations was highest in individuals aged 65 years and over and care home residents.
2 COVID-19 Autumn Vaccination Programme 2024/25
The COVID-19 Autumn/Winter Vaccination Programme commenced in Northern Ireland on 07 October 2024 and ended on 28 February 2025. The programme was delivered by a number of providers including GP, community pharmacy and Health and Social Care Trusts. The total number of vaccinations administered during the programme was 251,685. COVID-19 Autumn vaccine uptake in 2024/25 was highest in care home residents (73.5%) and those aged 65 years and over (55.6%) (Figure 2.1).
Figure 2.1: COVID-19 Autumn vaccination uptake by eligible group in Northern Ireland, 2024/25.
3 Eligibility for vaccinations
The Green Book is published by UK Health Security Agency and provides information for public health professionals on immunisation, including COVID-19 vaccination (The Green Book | Immunisation againist infectious disease). Considering this advice and that of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the Chief Medical Officer in Northern Ireland issues a letter for the COVID-19 Autumn programme outlining who is eligible for vaccination under the current programme. For more information on the vaccination programmes in Northern Ireland, including eligibility for vaccination, please visit Health NI | COVID-19 Autumn Vaccination Programme 2024.
4 Methods
Data presented to the end of the COVID-19 Autumn vaccination programme, 28 February 2025.
All vaccinations were recorded on the Northern Ireland Vaccine Management System (VMS).
Data was accurate at the time of extraction, 20 May 2025. Data lags exist between date of administration of the vaccine and date of recording on VMS.
Eligible groups were not mutually exclusive and individuals may be counted in more than one group. Individuals may have more than one eligibility criteria for vaccination, however most will only have one reason for vaccination recorded on VMS. This will impact estimates of vaccine uptake.
4.1 Definitions and data sources
Vaccine uptake (%) was defined as the number of vaccinations administered (numerator) divided by the eligible population (denominator). Vaccine uptake was included in this report for those eligible groups in which a denominator was available.
COVID-19 Autumn vaccination was defined as any vaccination recorded on the VMS administered from 01 September 2024 to 28 February 2025.
4.1.1 Adult vaccinations by age group
Age for adult vaccinations was based on age at 31st March 2025. The age group based population was based on the NISRA mid-year estimate (2021).
4.1.2 At risk individuals
Individuals ‘at risk’ were determined using the reason for vaccination ‘at risk’ or ‘immunosuppressed’, as populated on the VMS. The population ‘at risk’ was determined using data from the national General Practice Intelligence Platform (GPIP) extracted at the beginning of the programme. Vaccine uptake for the adult ‘at risk’ population was estimated in this report.
4.1.3 Care home
Care home residents included those recorded as a care home resident with a valid RQIA care home registration number on VMS. The care home resident population was based on the beds occupied reported in the Northern Ireland RQIA Census of Bed Availability in Registered Care Homes in Northern Ireland (December 2023). Care home staff included those aged under 75 years and recorded as care home staff on VMS. The care home staff population was based on the latest data submission from care homes on the RQIA web portal in August 2023. Vaccine uptake is estimated for care home staff.
4.1.4 Health and social care workers
Reporting of health and social care worker (HSCW) uptake was based on Trust-employed staff only. This included the five health and social care Trusts and Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS). The definition of a frontline HSCW was for reporting purposes only and included the following job roles; Ambulance, Medical & Dental, Nursing & Midwifery (including nurse support staff), Professional & Technical and Social Services. The population of Trust-employed HSCWs was based on the Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Workforce Census 2023.
5 Supplementary tables
Table 1: Number of COVID-19 Autumn vaccinations and cumulative vaccination uptake by eligible group in Northern Ireland, 2024/25.
Eligible Group | Number vaccinated | Population | Vaccine uptake (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
65 years and over | 183,147 | 329,235 | 55.6 |
18-64 years 'at risk' | 57,985 | 255,675 | 22.7 |
Care Home residents | 9,920 | 13,490 | 73.5 |
Care Home staff | 538 | 20,897 | 2.6 |
Frontline Trust-employed health and social care workers | 5,886 | 51,289 | 11.5 |