COVID-19 vaccination surveillance in Northern Ireland: Spring 2026

COVID-19 Vaccination Surveillance in Northern Ireland, Spring 2026

Data were correct at 14 June 2026.

1 Summary

  • A total of 62,764 COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered between 20 April 2026 to 14 June 2026.
  • COVID-19 vaccination uptake was highest in care home residents (56.8%).

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 14 June 2026 was 62,764. Vaccine uptake in Spring 2026 to date was highest in care home residents (56.8%) (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 Lisburn and Castlereagh (45.7%) and lowest in Fermanagh and Omagh (19.9%) and Mid Ulster (19.8%) (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 30.3% in those aged 75-79 years to 36.8% 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 Lisburn and Castlereagh (23%) and Ards and North Down (23.3%). Uptake was lowest in Mid Ulster (7.8%) and Fermanagh and Omagh (8.4%) (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.

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 4.8% in those aged 18-24 years to 27.5% 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 48.3% in Western HSC Trust (WHSCT) to 61.1% 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 14 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

55,553

163,694

33.9

18-74 years 'immunosuppressed'

5,585

39,399

14.2

Care Home residents

7,668

13,490

56.8

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

4,934

12,727

38.8

Ards and North Down

8,221

19,177

42.9

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon

5,402

17,899

30.2

Belfast

9,854

24,326

40.5

Causeway Coast and Glens

3,725

13,767

27.1

Derry City and Strabane

3,444

11,437

30.1

Fermanagh and Omagh

2,095

10,510

19.9

Lisburn and Castlereagh

6,302

13,776

45.7

Mid Ulster

2,225

11,242

19.8

Mid and East Antrim

4,812

13,955

34.5

Newry, Mourne and Down

4,364

14,878

29.3

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

21,685

71,602

30.3

80+

33,868

92,092

36.8

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

476

2,830

16.8

Ards and North Down

795

3,413

23.3

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon

591

4,307

13.7

Belfast

912

7,757

11.8

Causeway Coast and Glens

339

3,003

11.3

Derry City and Strabane

394

3,108

12.7

Fermanagh and Omagh

199

2,380

8.4

Lisburn and Castlereagh

741

3,219

23.0

Mid Ulster

212

2,716

7.8

Mid and East Antrim

451

2,738

16.5

Newry, Mourne and Down

472

3,711

12.7

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

54

1,129

4.8

25-29

54

1,254

4.3

30-34

105

1,686

6.2

35-39

135

2,486

5.4

40-44

207

3,008

6.9

45-49

265

3,446

7.7

50-54

432

4,023

10.7

55-59

681

5,205

13.1

60-64

1,021

6,048

16.9

65-69

1,202

5,926

20.3

70-74

1,429

5,188

27.5

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

1,637

2,680

61.1

NHSCT

2,069

3,521

58.8

SEHSCT

1,806

3,201

56.4

SHSCT

1,245

2,224

56.0

WHSCT

901

1,864

48.3