COVID-19 vaccination surveillance in Northern Ireland, Autumn/Winter 2025/26

COVID-19 Vaccination Surveillance in Northern Ireland, Autumn 2025

Data were correct at 18 January 2026.

1 Summary

  • A total of 102,817 COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered between 01 September 2025 to 18 January 2026 as part of the Autumn 2025 campaign.
  • COVID-19 vaccination uptake was highest in care home residents (67.5%).

2 COVID-19 Autumn 2025 Vaccination Campaign

The COVID-19 Autumn 2025 vaccination campaign commenced in Northern Ireland on 07 October 2025 and is expected to end on 31 January 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 18 January 2026 was 102,817. Vaccine uptake in Autumn 2025 to date was highest in care home residents (67.5%) (Figure 2.1).

Cumulative COVID-19 Autumn 2025 vaccination uptake by eligible group in Northern Ireland.

Figure 2.1: Cumulative COVID-19 Autumn 2025 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 (71.2%) and lowest in Mid Ulster (36.1%) (Figure 2.2).

COVID-19 vaccination uptake in individuals aged 75 years and older by Local Government District in Northern Ireland, Autumn 2025.

Figure 2.2: COVID-19 vaccination uptake in individuals aged 75 years and older by Local Government District in Northern Ireland, Autumn 2025.

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 50.3% in those aged 75-79 years to 61% in those aged 80 years and over (Figure 2.3).

COVID-19 vaccination uptake in individuals aged 75 years and older by age band in Northern Ireland, Autumn 2025.

Figure 2.3: COVID-19 vaccination uptake in individuals aged 75 years and older by age band in Northern Ireland, Autumn 2025.

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 (54.8%) and lowest in Mid Ulster (26%) (Figure 2.4).

COVID-19 vaccination uptake in individuals aged 18 to 74 years who were immunosuppressed by Local Government District in Northern Ireland, Autumn 2025.

Figure 2.4: COVID-19 vaccination uptake in individuals aged 18 to 74 years who were immunosuppressed by Local Government District in Northern Ireland, Autumn 2025.

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 16.9% in those aged 18-24 years to 73.1% in those aged 70-74 year (Figure 2.5).
COVID-19 vaccination uptake in individuals aged 18 to 74 years who were immunosuppressed by age band in Northern Ireland, Autumn 2025.

Figure 2.5: COVID-19 vaccination uptake in individuals aged 18 to 74 years who were immunosuppressed by age band in Northern Ireland, Autumn 2025.

2.3 Care Home residents

Vaccine uptake in care home residents varied across Health and Social Care (HSC) Trust area; ranging from 61% in Western HSC Trust (WHSCT) to 74.5% in Belfast HSC Trust (BHSCT) (Figure 2.6).

COVID-19 vaccination uptake in care home residents by Trust in Northern Ireland, Autumn 2025.

Figure 2.6: COVID-19 vaccination uptake in care home residents by Trust in Northern Ireland, Autumn 2025.

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 | Autumn 2025 COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign Campaign.

4 Methods

Data is presented to the end of the last reporting week for COVID-19 Autumn 2025 vaccinations, Sunday 18 January 2026.

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

Data was provisional and accurate at the time of extraction. Data lags exist between data 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 Autumn 2025 vaccination is defined as any vaccination recorded on the Northern Ireland Vaccine Management System (VMS) administered from 01 September 2025 to 31 January 2026.

4.1.1 Adult vaccinations by age group

Age for adult vaccinations is based on age at 31 March 2026. The age group based population is based on the NISRA mid-year estimate (2021).

4.1.2 Immunosuppressed individuals

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

4.1.3 Care home residents

Care home residents are those recorded as a care home resident with a valid RQIA care home registration number on VMS. The care home resident population is 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 is estimated in this report.

5 Supplementary tables

Table 1: Number of COVID-19 Autumn 2025 vaccinations and cumulative vaccination uptake by eligible group in Northern Ireland.

Eligible group

Number vaccinated

Population

Vaccine uptake (%)

75 years and over

85,293

151,548

56.3

18-74 years 'immunosuppressed'

15,531

39,399

39.4

Care Home residents

9,106

13,490

67.5

Table 2: Number of COVID-19 vaccinations and cumulative vaccination uptake in individuals aged 75 years and over by Local Government District in Northern Ireland, Autumn 2025.

LGD

Number vaccinated

Population

Vaccine uptake (%)

Antrim and Newtownabbey

7,416

11,798

62.9

Ards and North Down

12,220

17,172

71.2

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon

8,372

16,371

51.1

Belfast

14,141

24,040

58.8

Causeway Coast and Glens

6,599

12,763

51.7

Derry City and Strabane

5,650

10,358

54.5

Fermanagh and Omagh

3,856

9,418

40.9

Lisburn and Castlereagh

8,639

12,795

67.5

Mid Ulster

3,717

10,286

36.1

Mid and East Antrim

7,590

12,962

58.6

Newry, Mourne and Down

7,017

13,585

51.7

Table 3: Number of COVID-19 vaccinations and cumulative vaccination uptake in individuals aged 75 years and over by age band in Northern Ireland, Autumn 2025.

Age Band

Number vaccinated

Population

Vaccine uptake (%)

75-79

33,841

67,262

50.3

80+

51,452

84,286

61.0

Table 4: Number of COVID-19 vaccinations and cumulative vaccination uptake in individuals aged 18 to 74 years who were immunosuppressed by Local Government District in Northern Ireland, Autumn 2025.

LGD

Number vaccinated

Population

Vaccine uptake (%)

Antrim and Newtownabbey

1,450

2,830

51.2

Ards and North Down

1,872

3,413

54.8

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon

1,543

4,307

35.8

Belfast

2,508

7,757

32.3

Causeway Coast and Glens

1,188

3,003

39.6

Derry City and Strabane

1,518

3,108

48.8

Fermanagh and Omagh

744

2,380

31.3

Lisburn and Castlereagh

1,477

3,219

45.9

Mid Ulster

707

2,716

26.0

Mid and East Antrim

1,089

2,738

39.8

Newry, Mourne and Down

1,408

3,711

37.9

Table 5: Number of COVID-19 vaccinations and cumulative vaccination uptake in individuals aged 18 to 74 years who were immunosuppressed by age band in Northern Ireland, Autumn 2025.

Age Band

Number vaccinated

Population

Vaccine uptake (%)

18-24

191

1,129

16.9

25-29

218

1,254

17.4

30-34

346

1,686

20.5

35-39

493

2,486

19.8

40-44

620

3,008

20.6

45-49

904

3,446

26.2

50-54

1,228

4,023

30.5

55-59

1,858

5,205

35.7

60-64

2,636

6,048

43.6

65-69

3,244

5,926

54.7

70-74

3,793

5,188

73.1

Table 6: Number of COVID-19 vaccinations and cumulative vaccination uptake in care home residents by Trust in Northern Ireland, Autumn 2025.

Trust

Number vaccinated

Population

Vaccine uptake (%)

BHSCT

1,997

2,680

74.5

NHSCT

2,284

3,521

64.9

SEHSCT

2,308

3,201

72.1

SHSCT

1,369

2,224

61.6

WHSCT

1,137

1,864

61.0