Information for healthcare and other professionals
Vaccination and immunisation professional resources
This page is for healthcare professionals delivering vaccination programmes in Northern Ireland. Access Vaccine preventable diseases and immunisation programmes page for public information.
This page provides information, resources, trusted guidance, training and campaign materials to support professionals who are involved in vaccine programmes delivery, education, and public outreach. These users might include:
- Healthcare professionals (GPs, nurses, pharmacists)
- Educators (school staff, teachers, principals, headteachers, administrators)
- Community and voluntary sector workers (youth workers, outreach teams)
- Public health officials
- Care home staff
- Social workers and early years practitioners
Latest updates
- January 2026 childhood immunisation changes (MMRV)
- Newsletter - Changes to childhood immunisation schedule, January 2026
Quick access (most used tools)
- A visual guide to vaccines: used in the routine immunisation schedule 2026
- Eligibility calculator: Childhood immunisation eligibility calculator
- Incomplete vaccination: Vaccination of individuals with uncertain or incomplete immunisation
- Policy letters (DoH)
- Green Book: Immunisation against infectious disease
- PGDs / National Protocols: HSC Primary Care Intranet
- PHA SharePoint Portal: Immunisation and vaccination dashboard
- Yellow Card: Report adverse events
- Vaccine Management System (VMS): Recording of vaccines, appointment booking, monitoring
Guidance and training programme resources:
(Please check this page regularly as links to external sources may update as new materials are uploaded)
January 2026 changes to childhood immunisation schedule (MMRV)
The following resources and guidelines are for the use of health and social care professionals only.
For public information, access Vaccine preventable diseases and immunisation programmes page.
This section provides healthcare and other professionals with key resources and guidance for the Phase 2 rollout of the childhood immunisation schedule changes, including the introduction of the MMRV vaccine from 1 January 2026.
Public facing leaflets and communication resources | |
PHA public facing leaflets
| |
| PHA public communications resources | |
| NI Direct resources | |
| Vaccine Knowledge Project | |
Professional reference resources (policy and official guidance) | |
| HSS (CMO) Policy Letter | |
| PGD | |
| Green Book chapters | |
| Complete immunisation schedule (update) | |
| Measles poster (update) | |
| Guidance notes for professionals (childhood vaccines) | |
| CHS7 update January 2026 (unscheduled vaccination form) | |
| Visual guide to vaccines | |
| Routine childhood immunisation eligibility calculator | |
| Incomplete vaccination status algorithm | |
| Vaccines and porcine gelatine webpage and leaflet: | |
| MMRV and febrile convulsions webpage and leaflet: | |
| Reporting adverse reactions (Yellow Card Scheme) | |
| Electronic Medicines Compendium | |
| Newsletter phase 2 changes to childhood schedule | |
Professional training resources |
GPNI webinar – Changes to the childhood schedule phase 2: Clinical Education Centre webinar – Changes to the childhood schedule phase 2: Practice Managers and Child Health System staff webinar phase 2:
NHS eLearning for healthcare (elfh) NHSE: NHSE elfh Hub
PHA SharePoint: Conversations to build trust in vaccination: A training module for health workers | World Health Organisation 2017 SPPG and PHA Guidance on Vaccine Handling and Storage in GP Practices |
*The website links above are live documents, documents will be added and updated as they become available. Please use the online version of these documents and check regularly for updates.
Clinical guidance and policy
The following resources and guidelines are for the use of health and social care professionals only. To access public information, visit Vaccine preventable diseases and immunisation programmes page | HSC Public Health Agency.
Find the key clinical guidance, policy, factsheets, and PGDs needed to support vaccination decision making and delivery.
- Policy letters (DoH) - Access national vaccination policy letters on the Department of Health website. Subscribe to vaccine updates - GOV.UK
- The Green Book (UK immunisation guidance) - information for public health professionals on immunisation against infectious diseases provides authoritative guidance on vaccination policy and practice.
- Patient Group Directives (PGDs) / National Protocols – Primary Care Intranet
- Eligibility calculator - Childhood immunisation
- Yellow Card - report adverse events
- Vaccine Management System (VMS) - Recording of vaccines, coverage monitoring, appointment booking
- SharePoint dashboard - PHA immunisation and vaccination
- Guidance - how to handle records of patients with uncertain vaccination history or patients vaccinated in other countries
- Managing incomplete immunisation histories using UKHSA algorithm training video and presentation PHA incomplete vaccination slides.
- Vaccination of individuals with uncertain or incomplete immunisation status, Public Health England, one-page summary to help health professionals vaccinate people correctly to protect them and their families from disease.
- United Kingdom and international immunisation schedules comparison tool, Public Health England, to help health professionals ascertain vaccines individuals moving aboard may have received.
- Vaccine schedules in all countries of the European Union, European Centre of Disease Control, an interactive tool that shows vaccination schedules for EU/EEA countries.
- World Health Organisation (WHO) on vaccine programmes
- Interpreting services - Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Interpreting Service (NIHSCIS), Business Support Organisation
- Translated immunisation invitation letters, Public Health Agency
Fact sheets for health professionals (vaccine specific)
- Immunisation guidance notes for professionals (2026)
- Flu resources for professionals
- Influenza immunisation programme - factsheet for healthcare practitioners
- Hepatitis B - Quick reference guide for primary care
- Clinical guidelines on hepatitis B
- Hexavalent (6 in 1) combination vaccine (routine immunisation programme)
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) immunisation programme - factsheet for healthcare professionals
- Measles - factsheet for healthcare professionals
- Meningococcal ACWY programme for adolescents: factsheet for healthcare professionals
- Meningococcal B (MenB) immunisation programme - factsheet for healthcare professionals
- Changes to the infant pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) schedule - Information for healthcare practitioners
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) maternal immunisation programme for infant protection: factsheet for healthcare practitioners
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunisation programme for older adults: factsheet for healthcare practitioners
- Rotavirus immunisation - factsheet for healthcare practitioners
- Shingles vaccination - factsheet for healthcare professionals
- Splenectomy in adults and children - factsheet for health professionals (includes MenACWY, pneumococcal, flu)
- Whooping Cough (Pertussis) factsheet for primary care practitioners
- Whooping Cough (Pertussis) immunisation for pregnant women - factsheet for healthcare professionals
- Travel health and vaccines guidance
E-learning, standards, vaccine handling and storage, PHA portal
The following resources and guidelines are for the use of health and social care professionals only. Access Vaccine preventable diseases and immunisation programmes | HSC Public Health Agency for public information.
E-learning modules:
The e-learning for health (e-lfh) general immunisation modules provide training for many of the standards outlined in the National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Immunisation Training for Registered Healthcare Practitioners:
- Immunology & Assessment
- Communicating with patients, parents and carers
- Legal Aspects & Assessment
- Vaccine Storage & Assessment
- Vaccine Administration & Assessment
Health professionals working in Health and Social Care (HSC) in Northern Ireland can access e-lfh immunisation modules with their hscni.net email address.
Standards and core curriculum for immunisation training:
The National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Immunisation Training for Registered Healthcare Practitioners, February 2018, provide minimum standards and the core curriculum for health professionals requiring training in vaccinations.
Immunisation documents previously published by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) have now been incorporated into this document. The Public Health Agency endorses the advice and recommendations provided.
PHA SharePoint immunisation and vaccination training portal:
- PHA SharePoint immunisation and vaccination training materials portal (organised by targeted programmes, life stages) for healthcare professionals only
Vaccine handling and storage guidance and training for primary care settings:
Childhood vaccination programmes
The following resources and guidelines are for the use of health and social care professionals only. Access Vaccine preventable diseases and immunisation programmes | HSC Public Health Agency for public information.
Childhood vaccination programmes
Immunisations for infants (aged under 1 year) and children (aged 1–2 years)
- Includes: Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, hepatitis B, Hib, MMR, Men B, Men C, pneumococcal, rotavirus, BCG, influenza
- Resources: Childhood immunisation programme
Pre-school immunisations (aged 2–4 years)
- Includes: Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, MMR
Immunisations for 12–13 year old
- Includes: Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, MenACWY, MMR, HPV
- Factsheet on MenACWY immunisation for teenagers
- Factsheet on HPV vaccine for children in Year 9 and 10
- HPV vaccine training slides 2019 15_8_19.pptx
Childhood immunisation schedule
| Age due | Vaccines that protect against | Vaccine given | |
| 8 weeks old | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and hepatitis B | DTaP/IPV/Hib/He (6 in 1 vaccine) - one injection | |
| Meningococcal group B (MenB) | MenB - one injection | ||
| Rotavirus gastroenteritis | Rotavirus - orally | ||
| 12 weeks old | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and hepatitis B | DTaP/IPV/Hib/He (6 in 1 vaccine) - one injection | |
| Meningococcal group B (MenB) | MenB - one injection | ||
| Rotavirus gastroenteritis | Rotavirus - orally | ||
| 16 weeks old | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and hepatitis B | DTaP/IPV/Hib/He (6 in 1 vaccine) - one injection | |
| Pneumococcal (13 serotypes) • if received pneumococcal at 12 weeks give Men B | PCV - one injection | ||
| Age due | Vaccines that protect against | Vaccine given | |
| One year old (on or after the child’s first birthday) | Born before 1 July 2024 | Born on or after 1 July 2024 | |
| Pneumococcal | Pneumococcal | PCV - one injection | |
| Measles, mumps, rubella | Measles, mumps, rubella | MMR - one injection | |
| MenB | MenB | MenB - one injection | |
| Hib/MenC (if Hib/MenC exhausted give DTaP/Hib/IPV/HepB) | Hib/MenC - one injection | ||
| 18 months | No appointment | DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB | DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB - one injection |
| Measles, mumps, rubella | MMR - one injection | ||
| 3 years 4 months old or soon after | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio | dTaP/IPV - one injection |
| Measles, mumps, rubella | MMR - one injection | ||
| Boys and girls aged 12 to 13 years | Cancers and genital warts caused by specific human papillomavirus (HPV) types | HPV - one injection | |
| 14 years old (school Year 9) | Tetanus, diphtheria and polio | Td/IPV - one injection | |
| Meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y | MenACWY - one injection | ||
| Eligible paediatric age group See annual flu letter | Influenza (each year from September) | LAIV (Live attenuated influenza vaccine • If LAIV is contraindicated o otherwise unsuitable use inactivated flu vaccine (check Green Book chapter 19 for details) - injection or nasal spray | |
Specific vaccine information
Meningococcal vaccines (MenACWY and Men B) - Factsheet on MenACWY immunisation for teenagers, Meningitis B immunisation
Pertussis (whooping cough) Includes: Infants, pre-school aged children and pregnant women - Pertussis (whooping cough) immunisation
Rotavirus - Factsheet on rotavirus immunisation
Selective childhood immunisation programmes schedule
| Target group | Age and schedule | Disease | Vaccines required |
| Babies born to mothers with hepatitis B | At birth, 4 weeks if born before 1 July 2024 give additional dose at one year | Hepatitis B | Hepatitis B (Engerix B/HBvaxPRO) |
| Infants in areas of the country with TB incidence >= 40/100,000 | Around 28 days old | Tuberculosis | BCG Check SCID screening outcome before giving BCG |
| Infants with a parent or grandparent born in a high incidence country | Around 28 days old | Tuberculosis | BCG Check SCID screening outcome before giving BCG |
| Children in a clinical risk group | Age under 2 years • if first ever flu vaccine give second dose at 4 weeks | Influenza | Inactivated flu vaccine |
| Aged 2 to 8 years • if first ever flu vaccine give second dose at 4 weeks | LAIV • if LAIV contraindicated or otherwise unsuitable give inactivated flu | ||
| Aged 9 to17 years • only one dose required each flu season | LAIV • if LAIV contraindicated or otherwise unsuitable give inactivated flu | ||
| Pregnant women | At any stage of pregnancy during flu season | Influenza | Inactivated flu vaccine |
| From 16 weeks gestation | Pertussis | Tdap (ADACEL) | |
| From 28 weeks gestation | RSV | RSV vaccine (Abrysvo) |
Teenagers immunisation
The following resources and guidelines are for the use of health and social care professionals only. Access Vaccine preventable diseases and immunisation programmes | HSC Public Health Agency for public information.
under construction
Newsletter
Policy letter
Change to the Childhood Schedule Flyer including alternative languages
CHS7 Immunisation Unscheduled Attendance Form (July 2025 – December 2025)
Training Resources
- GPNI - GPNI Practice Update: Changes to the Childhood Vaccination Schedule 2025
- Clinical Education Centre - LearnHSCNI | Changes to Childhood Immunisation Webinar
- Child Health Staff Practice Managers Information Session 25 06 25 (updated 03 07 25)
- NHS eLearning for healthcare hub NHSE elfh Hub
Green Book
| No | Green Book Chapter | Link |
| 1 | Immunisation against infectious disease (front cover and content page) | https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immunisation-against-infectious-disease-the-green-book
|
| 2 | Green Book - Hib (Chapter 16) | Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib): the green book, chapter 16 - GOV.UK |
| 3 | Green Book - Hep B (Chapter 18) | Hepatitis B: the green book, chapter 18 - GOV.UK |
| 4 | Green Book - Routine Schedule (Chapter 11) | UK immunisation schedule: the green book, chapter 11 - GOV.UK |
| 5 | Green Book - Diphtheria (Chapter 15) | Diphtheria: the green book, chapter 15 - GOV.UK |
| 6 | Green Book - Polio (Chapter 26) | Polio: the green book, chapter 26-GOV.UK |
| 7 | Green Book – Tetanus (Chapter 30) | Tetanus: the green book, chapter 30 - GOV.UK |
| 8 | Pertussis (Chapter 24) | Pertussis: the green book, chapter 24 - GOV.UK |
| 9 | Meningococcal (Chapter 22) | Meningococcal: the green book, chapter 22 - GOV.UK |
| 10 | Pneumococcal (Chapter 25) | Pneumococcal: the green book, chapter 25 - GOV.UK |
NI Direct
Childhood immunisation programme | nidirect
Incomplete vaccination status
Eligibility Calculator
Professional Resources (UNDER REVIEW)
- Changes to the Childhood Schedule 2025 healthcare professionals FAQ
- Immunisation notes for professionals
- PCV factsheet
- Hexavalent Factsheet for healthcare professionals
- MenB factsheet
- Measles Factsheet
- Meningococcal ACWY programme for adolescents
- Paracetamol and MenB Factsheet
- Childhood immunisation schedule changes 2025 (leaflet)
Routine Immunisation poster (UNDER REVIEW)
Public leaflet for mothers who have tested positive to Hep B
Targeted programmes (measles, Hep B, mPox, HPV, RSV)
The following resources and guidelines are for the use of health and social care professionals. Access Vaccine preventable diseases and immunisation programmes | HSC Public Health Agency for public information.
Measles:
- Measles awareness session provides guidance and information to promote and educate around Measles, MMR and the catch-up campaign.
- Measles Cases Europe Measles on the rise in the EU/EEA - 16 February 2024 (europa.eu).
- Measles cases England - National Measles Standard Incident - measles epidemiology (from October 2023) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- Measles cases Northern Ireland - Measles | HSC Public Health Agency (hscni.net)
RSV:
Training materials:
- RSV vaccination training slides_maternal programme for infant protection 08.2024
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programme for older adults_training slides for health professionals 26 February 2026
RSV publications:
- Your guide to the RSV vaccine for older adults | HSC Public Health Agency (hscni.net)
- Protect your baby from RSV bronchiolitis with your RSV vaccine from week 28 of your pregnancy | HSC Public Health Agency (hscni.net)
BCG (tuberculosis)
Hepatitis B - Includes: Universal hepatitis B programme and hepatitis B vaccine for at risk babies, Clinical guidelines on hepatitis B
Influenza (flu) - Includes: Children, adults, pregnant women and healthcare workers - Flu resources for professionals
Protecting you from mpox | HSC Public Health Agency
HPV vaccine - Includes: Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) HPV vaccination for gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men | HSC Public Health Agency
A guide to the Meningococcal B vaccine for protection against gonorrhoea | HSC Public Health Agency
Pregnant women - Includes: Flu, pertussis, MMR, hepatitis B and syphilis advice
Shingles - Factsheet on shingles vaccination
Splenectomy - Includes: MenACWY, pneumococcal, flu, Factsheet on splenectomy
Travel vaccines (National Travel and Health Network, Travax) - NATHNAC support for those providing health information to people going travelling , Travel health information from TRAVAX
Seasonal campaigns (Flu, COVID-19, adults, preschool)
The following resources and guidelines are for the use of health and social care professionals.
For public information, access Vaccine preventable diseases and immunisation programmes page.
COVID-19
- COVID-19 vaccination programme (adults) 2025-26 training
- COVID-19 vaccination programme (children) 2025-26 training
Combined COVID-19 and flu
Flu vaccination programme 2025-26
- Childhood influenza (flu) immunisation programme 2025-26 - training slides
- Adult influenza (flu) immunisation programme 2025-26 - training slides
- Click here for seasonal flu training for health professionals
Preschool vaccination programme
- Routine childhood immunisation programme poster
- Childhood immunisations: general guidance information on delivery
- Publications | HSC Public Health Agency
Links to useful reading and resources in relation to motivational interviewing / difficult conversations in the context of vaccine hesitancy:
- https://immunisationsuk.co.uk/learn-how-to-address-vaccine-hesitancy/
- https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2018/06/06/better-conversations-can-change-lives/
- Motivational interviewing training at: https://cec.hscni.net/programmes/
PHA Immunisation training slides:
- Hexavalent Combination Vaccine (6 in 1) Diptheria,Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, Haemophilus influenzae type B and Hepatitis B(DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB)
- Rotavirus Vaccine
- Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine
- Meningococcal B and C Vaccines
- Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine
- DTaP/IPV Booster Vaccine (preschool booster)
PHA Health Professional factsheets:
- Hexavalent DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB Combination Vaccine (6 in 1)
- Rotavirus Vaccine factsheet for Healthcare professionals (Immunisation)
- Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine
- Meningococcal B immunization Programme- Factsheet for Healthcare professionals
- MMR Vaccine advice
- DTaP/IPV Booster Vaccines (preschool booster)
Pregnancy (professional resources)
The following resources and guidelines are for the use of health and social care professionals. Access Vaccine preventable diseases and immunisation programmes | HSC Public Health Agency for public information.
Flu
- Factsheet for professionals – Influenza immunisation programme: Factsheet for healthcare practitioners
- Service User leaflet – Flu is more serious than you think: Pregnant women (English and translations)
RSV
- Factsheet for professionals – Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) maternal immunisation programme for infant protection: factsheet for healthcare practitioners
- Professional training PowerPoint – PHA RSV vaccination training slides Maternal programme for infant protection final 08.2024.pptx
- Service user leaflet – How to protect your baby from RSV
Pertussis (whooping cough)
- Factsheet for professionals - Whooping Cough (Pertussis) immunisation for pregnant women - Factsheet
- Professional training PowerPoint - Pertussis in pregnancy final draft RS and LF - 20240621.pptx
- Professionals webinar LearnHSCNI | Pertussis Webinar (CEC)
- Service user leaflet – Whooping Cough (Pertussis) immunisation - Leaflet
Having conversations about vaccination
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Recording a vaccination
Social media resources for vaccination programmes
The following resources and guidelines are for the use of health and social care professionals only. Access Vaccine preventable diseases and immunisation programmes | HSC Public Health Agency for public information.
Use the social media assets and messaging below to spread awareness and promote vaccination programmes running in Northern Ireland.
Check Public Health Agency's social media channels, subscribe to stay up-to-date on the latest vaccination programme campaigns:
Vaccination coverage and uptake reports
Annual and quarterly vaccination coverage and uptake reports
The PHA Immunisation Team publishes quarterly and annual vaccination coverage and uptake reports by types of vaccination programmes:
- Preschool immunisation programmes,
- School-based immunisation programmes
- Pregnancy, Adult, Elderly
- Seasonal
Archive
- Access archive of Annual Immunisation and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Reports here.
Training materials and guidance for community workers, educators:
Educators (teachers, principals)
The following resources and guidelines are for the use of school teachers, school nurses, principals, head teachers only. Access Vaccine preventable diseases and immunisation programmes | HSC Public Health Agency for public information.
School flu pack – pending
School vaccines videos on Vimeo:
- School vaccines video (English)
- School vaccines video (Irish)
- School vaccines video (Bulgarian)
- School vaccines video (Lithuanian)
- School vaccines video (Polish)
- School vaccines video (Romanian)
- School vaccines video (Tetum)
- School vaccines video (Ukrainian)
Other resources:
- World immunisation week school competitions for primary and post secondary 2025
- E:bug teaching resources
Presentations and promotional materials:
- HPV vaccine guidelines for school staff 2025.pptx
- Teenage vaccinations - information session for principals and teachers 14 May 2025 (video from the webinar)
- Teenage vaccinations - information session for principals and teachers 14 May 2025 (pptx slides from the webinar)
Measles resources:
Community and voluntary sector professionals
The following resources and guidelines are for the use of health and social care professionals only. Access Vaccine preventable diseases and immunisation programmes | HSC Public Health Agency for public information.
WORK IN PROGRESS