1 Summary

• A total of 46,384 COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered between 20 April 2026 to 24 May 2026.
• COVID-19 vaccination uptake was highest in care home residents (46%).

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 24 May 2026 was 46,384. Vaccine uptake in Spring 2026 to date was highest in care home residents (46%) (Figure 2.1).

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 Lisburn and Castlereagh (37.1%) and lowest in Mid Ulster (13.2%) (Figure 2.2).

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 22.3% in those aged 75-79 years to 27.4% in those aged 80 years and over (Figure 2.3).

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 Lisburn and Castlereagh (18.9%) and lowest in Mid Ulster (4.2%) (Figure 2.4).

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 3.1% in those aged 18-24 years to 17.8% in those aged 70-74 years. (Figure 2.5).

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 36.9% in Western HSC Trust (WHSCT) to 51.8% in Northern HSC Trust (NHSCT) (Figure 2.6).

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 24 May 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.

5 Supplementary tables

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

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.

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.

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..

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.

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