COVID-19 vaccination surveillance in Northern Ireland: Spring 2026

COVID-19 Vaccination Surveillance in Northern Ireland, Spring 2026

Data were correct at 28 June 2026.

1 Summary

  • A total of 67,709 COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered between 20 April 2026 to 28 June 2026.
  • COVID-19 vaccination uptake was highest in care home residents (64%).

2 COVID-19 Spring 2026 Vaccination Campaign

The COVID-19 Spring 2026 vaccination campaign commenced in Northern Ireland on 20 April 2026. The campaign is delivered by a number of providers including GP, community pharmacy and Health and Social Care Trusts. The total number of vaccinations administered to 28 June 2026 was 67,709. Vaccine uptake in Spring 2026 to date was highest in care home residents (64%) (Figure 2.1).

Cumulative COVID-19 Spring 2026 vaccination uptake by eligible group in Northern Ireland.

Figure 2.1: Cumulative COVID-19 Spring 2026 vaccination uptake by eligible group in Northern Ireland.

2.1 75 years and over

2.1.1 75 years and over by Local Government District

Vaccine uptake in individuals aged 75 years and over varied by LGD. Vaccine uptake was highest in Ards and North Down (48.8%) and Lisburn and Castlereagh (47.3%) and lowest in Fermanagh and Omagh (22.2%) and Mid Ulster (21.1%) (Figure 2.2).

COVID-19 Spring 2026 vaccination uptake in individuals aged 75 years and older by Local Government District in Northern Ireland.

Figure 2.2: COVID-19 Spring 2026 vaccination uptake in individuals aged 75 years and older by Local Government District in Northern Ireland.

2.1.2 75 years and over by age band

Vaccine uptake in individuals aged 75 years and over improved with increasing age. Vaccine uptake increased from 32.3% in those aged 75-79 years to 39.7% in those aged 80 years and over (Figure 2.3).

COVID-19 Spring 2026 vaccination uptake in individuals aged 75 years and older by age band in Northern Ireland.

Figure 2.3: COVID-19 Spring 2026 vaccination uptake in individuals aged 75 years and older by age band in Northern Ireland.

2.2 18-74 years immunosuppressed

2.2.1 18-74 years immunosuppressed by Local Government District

Vaccine uptake in individuals aged 18-74 years who were immunosuppressed varied by LGD. Vaccine uptake was highest in Ards and North Down (26.1%) and Lisburn and Castlereagh (24%) and lowest in Mid Ulster (8.1%) and Fermanagh and Omagh (9.5%) (Figure 2.4).

COVID-19 Spring 2026 vaccination uptake in individuals aged 18 to 74 years who were immunosuppressed by Local Government District in Northern Ireland.

Figure 2.4: COVID-19 Spring 2026 vaccination uptake in individuals aged 18 to 74 years who were immunosuppressed by Local Government District in Northern Ireland.

2.2.2 18-74 years immunosuppressed by age band

Vaccine uptake in individuals aged 18-74 years who were immunosuppressed improved with increasing age. Vaccine uptake increased from 5.4% in those aged 18-24 years to 30.4% in those aged 70-74 years. (Figure 2.5).
COVID-19 Spring 2026 vaccination uptake in individuals aged 18 to 74 years who were immunosuppressed by age band in Northern Ireland.

Figure 2.5: COVID-19 Spring 2026 vaccination uptake in individuals aged 18 to 74 years who were immunosuppressed by age band in Northern Ireland.

2.3 Care Home residents

Vaccine uptake in care home residents varied across Health and Social Care (HSC) Trust area; ranging from 59.1% in Southern HSC Trust (SHSCT) to 72.1% in Belfast HSC Trust (BHSCT) (Figure 2.6).

COVID-19 Spring 2026 vaccination uptake in care home residents by Trust in Northern Ireland.

Figure 2.6: COVID-19 Spring 2026 vaccination uptake in care home residents by Trust in Northern Ireland.

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 vaccination campaign outlining who is eligible for vaccination under the current programme. For more information on the COVID-19 vaccination programme in Northern Ireland, including eligibility for vaccination, please visit Health NI | Spring 2026 COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign.

4 Methods

Data is presented to the end of the last reporting week for COVID-19 Spring 2026 vaccinations, Sunday 28 June 2026.

All vaccinations were recorded on the Northern Ireland Vaccine Management System (VMS).

Data is provisional and accurate at the time of extraction. Data lags exist between date of administration of the vaccine and date of recording on VMS.

Eligible groups are 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 (%) is defined as the number of vaccinations administered (numerator) divided by the eligible population (denominator). Vaccine uptake is included in this report for those eligible groups in which a denominator is available.

COVID-19 Spring 2026 vaccination is defined as any vaccination recorded on the VMS administered from 01 April 2026 to the end of the campaign.

4.1.1 Adult vaccinations by age group

Age for adult vaccinations was based on age at 30 June 2026. The age group based population was based on the NISRA mid-year estimate (2024).

4.1.2 Immunosuppressed individuals

Individuals who were ‘immunosuppressed’ were determined using the reason for vaccination ‘immunosuppressed’, as populated on the VMS. The population who were ‘immunosuppressed’ was determined using data from the national General Practice Intelligence Platform (GPIP) extracted at the beginning of the Autumn 2025 campaign. Vaccine uptake for the adult ‘immunosuppressed’ population was estimated in this report.

4.1.3 Care home residents

Care home residents were 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). Vaccine uptake in care home residents was estimated in this report.

5 Supplementary tables

Table 1: Number of COVID-19 Spring 2026 vaccinations and cumulative vaccination uptake by eligible group in Northern Ireland.

Group

Number vaccinated

Population

Vaccine uptake (%)

75 years and over

59,677

163,694

36.5

18-74 years 'immunosuppressed'

6,187

39,399

15.7

Care Home residents

8,638

13,490

64.0

Table 2: Number of COVID-19 Spring 2026 vaccinations and cumulative vaccination uptake in individuals aged 75 years and over by Local Government District in Northern Ireland.

LGD

Number vaccinated

Population

Vaccine uptake (%)

Antrim and Newtownabbey

5,307

12,727

41.7

Ards and North Down

9,357

19,177

48.8

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon

5,704

17,899

31.9

Belfast

10,448

24,326

42.9

Causeway Coast and Glens

3,931

13,767

28.6

Derry City and Strabane

3,677

11,437

32.2

Fermanagh and Omagh

2,331

10,510

22.2

Lisburn and Castlereagh

6,516

13,776

47.3

Mid Ulster

2,372

11,242

21.1

Mid and East Antrim

5,191

13,955

37.2

Newry, Mourne and Down

4,789

14,878

32.2

Table 3: Number of COVID-19 Spring 2026 vaccinations and cumulative vaccination uptake in individuals aged 75 years and over by age band in Northern Ireland.

Age Band

Number vaccinated

Population

Vaccine uptake (%)

75-79

23,155

71,602

32.3

80+

36,522

92,092

39.7

Table 4: Number of COVID-19 Spring 2026 vaccinations and cumulative vaccination uptake in individuals aged 18 to 74 years who were immunosuppressed by Local Government District in Northern Ireland.

LGD

Number vaccinated

Population

Vaccine uptake (%)

Antrim and Newtownabbey

522

2,830

18.4

Ards and North Down

892

3,413

26.1

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon

647

4,307

15.0

Belfast

1,005

7,757

13.0

Causeway Coast and Glens

365

3,003

12.2

Derry City and Strabane

424

3,108

13.6

Fermanagh and Omagh

225

2,380

9.5

Lisburn and Castlereagh

772

3,219

24.0

Mid Ulster

220

2,716

8.1

Mid and East Antrim

578

2,738

21.1

Newry, Mourne and Down

533

3,711

14.4

Table 5: Number of COVID-19 Spring 2026 vaccinations and cumulative vaccination uptake in individuals aged 18 to 74 years who were immunosuppressed by age band in Northern Ireland.

Age Band

Number vaccinated

Population

Vaccine uptake (%)

18-24

61

1,129

5.4

25-29

61

1,254

4.9

30-34

117

1,686

6.9

35-39

153

2,486

6.2

40-44

223

3,008

7.4

45-49

303

3,446

8.8

50-54

472

4,023

11.7

55-59

755

5,205

14.5

60-64

1,125

6,048

18.6

65-69

1,340

5,926

22.6

70-74

1,577

5,188

30.4

Table 6: Number of COVID-19 Spring 2026 vaccinations and cumulative vaccination uptake in care home residents by Trust in Northern Ireland.

Trust

Number vaccinated

Population

Vaccine uptake (%)

BHSCT

1,933

2,680

72.1

NHSCT

2,177

3,521

61.8

SEHSCT

2,096

3,201

65.5

SHSCT

1,315

2,224

59.1

WHSCT

1,105

1,864

59.3