1 Summary

• A total of 40,349 of an estimated 77,244 eligible older adults received RSV vaccination between 1 September 2024 and 31 August 2025.
• Uptake of RSV vaccination in all older adults was 52.2%.
• Uptake of RSV vaccination was highest in the catch up cohort (individuals aged 76 - 80 years on 31 August 2025) at 59.3% .

2 RSV vaccination programme for older adults

The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programme for older adults was introduced in Northern Ireland on 1 September 2024. This report details vaccine uptake during the first year (2024/25) of the vaccination programme for older adults, from 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2025. The programme was delivered by a number of providers including GP and Health and Social Care Trusts. The programme for protection of older adults consisted of two cohorts:

• routine programme for older adults turning 75 years from 1 September 2024 (born on or after 1 September 1949)
• catch up campaign for those already aged 75 to 79 years old on 1 September 2024 (born between 1 September 1945 and 31 August 1949). These individuals remained eligible up to and including the day before their 80th birthday. Individuals aged 79 years on 1 September 2024 (born between 2 September 1944 and 31 August 1945) and who had their 80th birthday within the first year after the catch up commenced were also eligible.

Vaccine uptake during the first year of the RSV vaccination programme (2024/25) was highest in the catch up cohort (individuals aged 76 - 80 years on 31 August 2025) at 59.3% (Figure 2.1). Vaccination of individuals within the catch up cohort was encouraged as soon as possible following commencement of the programme. Individuals in the routine cohort gradually became eligible as the programme continued. Individuals turning 75 years of age with birthdays later in the programme year may not have had the opportunity to get vaccinated within the time period of this report.

Figure 2.1: RSV vaccination uptake in older adults, by eligible cohort in Northern Ireland, 2024/25

2.1 Vaccine uptake by age

Vaccine uptake increased with age between 75 and 79 years. Vaccine uptake was highest in individuals who turned 79 years (catch up cohort) by the end of the programme at 62.1% and lowest in individuals who turned 75 years (routine cohort) by the end of the programme at 22.3% (Figure 2.2).

Figure 2.2: RSV vaccination uptake in eligible older adults by age, 2024/25.

2.2 Vaccine uptake by cohort and local government district

Vaccine uptake in all eligible older adults varied by Local Government District (LGD). Vaccine uptake in the routine cohort (individuals aged 75 years) was highest in Lisburn and Castlereagh (34.1%) and lowest in Mid Ulster (13.2%). Vaccine uptake in the catch up cohort (individuals aged 76 - 80 years) was highest in Ards and North Down (70%) and lowest in Mid Ulster (40.5%) (Figure 2.3).

Figure 2.3: RSV vaccination uptake in eligible older adults, by cohort and local government district, 2024/25.

3 Eligibility for vaccinations

The Green Book is published by UK Health Security Agency and provides information for public health professionals on immunisation, including RSV 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 issued a letter for the RSV vaccination programme year outlining who is eligible for vaccination. For more information on the vaccination programmes in Northern Ireland, including eligibility for vaccination, please visit NIDirect | Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).

4 Methods

Data presented to the end of the 2024/25 RSV vaccination programme, 31 August 2025.

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

Data was accurate at the time of extraction, 01 December 2025. Data lags exist between date of administration of the vaccine and date of recording on VMS.

5 Supplementary tables

Table 1: Number of RSV vaccinations administered and vaccination uptake by eligible cohort in Northern Ireland, 2024/25.

Table 2: Number of RSV vaccinations administered and vaccination uptake in eligible older adults by age, 2024/25.

Table 3: Number of RSV vaccinations administered and vaccination uptake in the routine cohort (individuals aged 75 years at 31 August 2025) by local government district, 2024/25.

Table 4: Number of RSV vaccinations administered and vaccination uptake in the catch up cohort (individuals aged 76 - 80 years at 31 August 2025) by local government district, 2024/25.