Vaccine resources for healthcare and other professionals

This page is for healthcare and other professionals. Go to Vaccine preventable diseases and immunisation programmes page for public information. 

This page provides information, resources, trusted guidance, training and campaign materials to support professionals who are involved in vaccine programmes delivery, education, and public outreach. These users might include:

  • Healthcare professionals (GPs, nurses, pharmacists)
  • Educators (school staff, teachers, principals, headteachers, administrators)
  • Community and voluntary sector workers (youth workers, outreach teams)
  • Public health officials
  • Care home staff
  • Social workers and early years practitioners

Whether you're a healthcare provider, educator, or part of the voluntary or community sector, you find the latest resources, guidelines, and training materials below.

What's new

  • Seasonal updates (Flu 2024-25 including pre-school)
  • New training modules
  • Changes in eligibility or guidance

Guidance and training programme resources:

Vaccination policy and programme guidance

Vaccination policy and governance

Who sets vaccination policy?

The Department of Health (DoH) is responsible for developing vaccination policy, based on recommendations from the Joint Committee of Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI). The JCVI includes representatives from all Devolved Administrations.

Key reference documents:

Programme overview 

 

Specific vaccines information

Targeted campaigns

Vaccination guidance for special cases

Guidance for health professional in cases of patients vaccinated in other countries or with uncertain vaccination history.

Childhood vaccination programmes

Childhood vaccination programmes

Immunisations for infants (aged under 1 year) and children (aged 1–2 years)

  • Includes: Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, hepatitis B, Hib, MMR, Men B, Men C, pneumococcal, rotavirus, BCG, influenza
  • Resources: Childhood immunisation programme

Pre-school immunisations (aged 2–4 years)

  • Includes: Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, MMR

Immunisations for 12–13 year old

Childhood immunisation schedule 

Age dueVaccines that protect againstVaccine given
8 weeks old Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and hepatitis BDTaP/IPV/Hib/He (6 in 1 vaccine) - one injection
 Meningococcal group B (MenB)MenB - one injection
 Rotavirus gastroenteritisRotavirus - orally
12 weeks oldDiphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and hepatitis BDTaP/IPV/Hib/He (6 in 1 vaccine) - one injection
 Meningococcal group B (MenB)MenB - one injection
 Rotavirus gastroenteritisRotavirus - orally
16 weeks oldDiphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and hepatitis BDTaP/IPV/Hib/He (6 in 1 vaccine) - one injection
 Pneumococcal (13 serotypes) • if received pneumococcal at 12 weeks give Men BPCV - one injection
Age dueVaccines that protect againstVaccine given
One year old 
(on or after the child’s first birthday) 
Born before 1 July 2024Born on or after 1 July 2024 
 PneumococcalPneumococcalPCV - one injection
 Measles, mumps, rubellaMeasles, mumps, rubellaMMR - one injection
 MenBMenBMenB - one injection
 Hib/MenC (if Hib/MenC exhausted give DTaP/Hib/IPV/HepB) Hib/MenC - one injection
18 monthsNo appointmentDTaP/IPV/Hib/HepBDTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB - one injection
  Measles, mumps, rubellaMMR - one injection
3 years 4 months old or soon afterDiphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polioDiphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and poliodTaP/IPV - one injection
 Measles, mumps, rubella MMR - one injection
Boys and girls aged 12 to 13 yearsCancers and genital warts caused by specific human papillomavirus (HPV) typesHPV - one injection
14 years old (school Year 9)Tetanus, diphtheria and polioTd/IPV - one injection
 Meningococcal groups A, C, W and YMenACWY - one injection
Eligible paediatric age group See annual flu letterInfluenza (each year from September)LAIV (Live attenuated influenza vaccine • If LAIV is contraindicated o otherwise unsuitable use inactivated flu vaccine (check Green Book chapter 19 for details) - injection or nasal spray

 

Specific vaccine information

Meningococcal vaccines (MenACWY and Men B) - Factsheet on MenACWY immunisation for teenagers, Meningitis B immunisation

Pertussis (whooping cough) Includes: Infants, pre-school aged children and pregnant women - Pertussis (whooping cough) immunisation

Rotavirus - Factsheet on rotavirus immunisation
 

Selective childhood immunisation programmes schedule

Target groupAge and scheduleDiseaseVaccines required
Babies born to mothers with hepatitis BAt birth, 4 weeks if born before 1 July 2024 give additional dose at one yearHepatitis BHepatitis B (Engerix B/HBvaxPRO)
Infants in areas of the country with TB incidence >= 40/100,000Around 28 days oldTuberculosisBCG Check SCID screening outcome before giving BCG
Infants with a parent or grandparent born in a high incidence countryAround 28 days oldTuberculosisBCG Check SCID screening outcome before giving BCG
Children in a clinical risk groupAge under 2 years • if first ever flu vaccine give second dose at 4 weeksInfluenzaInactivated flu vaccine
 Aged 2 to 8 years • if first ever flu vaccine give second dose at 4 weeks LAIV • if LAIV contraindicated or otherwise unsuitable give inactivated flu
 Aged 9 to17 years • only one dose required each flu season LAIV • if LAIV contraindicated or otherwise unsuitable give inactivated flu
Pregnant womenAt any stage of pregnancy during flu seasonInfluenzaInactivated flu vaccine
 From 16 weeks gestationPertussisTdap (ADACEL)
 From 28 weeks gestationRSVRSV vaccine (Abrysvo)

 

Changes to childhood schedule

Newsletter

Policy letter

Change to the Childhood Schedule Flyer including alternative languages

CHS7 Immunisation Unscheduled Attendance Form (July 2025 – December 2025)

Training Resources

Green Book

NoGreen Book ChapterLink
1Immunisation against infectious disease (front cover and content page)

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immunisation-against-infectious-disease-the-green-book

 

2Green Book - Hib (Chapter 16) Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib): the green book, chapter 16 - GOV.UK
3Green Book - Hep B (Chapter 18) Hepatitis B: the green book, chapter 18 - GOV.UK
4Green Book - Routine Schedule (Chapter 11) UK immunisation schedule: the green book, chapter 11 - GOV.UK
5Green Book - Diphtheria (Chapter 15)Diphtheria: the green book, chapter 15 - GOV.UK
6Green Book - Polio (Chapter 26)Polio: the green book, chapter 26-GOV.UK
7Green Book – Tetanus (Chapter 30)Tetanus: the green book, chapter 30 - GOV.UK
8Pertussis (Chapter 24)Pertussis: the green book, chapter 24 - GOV.UK
9Meningococcal (Chapter 22)Meningococcal: the green book, chapter 22 - GOV.UK
10Pneumococcal (Chapter 25)Pneumococcal: the green book, chapter 25 - GOV.UK

NI Direct

Childhood immunisation programme | nidirect

Incomplete vaccination status

Eligibility Calculator 

Professional Resources (UNDER REVIEW)

  • Changes to the Childhood Schedule 2025 healthcare professionals FAQ
  • Immunisation notes for professionals
  • PCV factsheet
  • Hexavalent Factsheet for healthcare professionals
  • MenB factsheet
  • Measles Factsheet
  • Meningococcal ACWY programme for adolescents
  • Paracetamol and MenB Factsheet
  • Childhood immunisation schedule changes 2025 (leaflet)

Routine Immunisation poster (UNDER REVIEW)

Public leaflet for mothers who have tested positive to Hep B

 

Seasonal campaigns (2024-25 flu incl preschool), COVID-19

Flu vaccination programme 2024-25

Preschool vaccination programme

PHA Immunisation training slides:

  • Hexavalent Combination Vaccine (6 in 1) Diptheria,Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, Haemophilus influenzae type B and Hepatitis B(DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB)
  • Rotavirus Vaccine
  • Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine
  • Meningococcal B and C Vaccines
  • Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine
  • DTaP/IPV Booster Vaccine (preschool booster)

PHA Health Professional factsheets:

  • Hexavalent DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB Combination Vaccine (6 in 1)
  • Rotavirus Vaccine factsheet for Healthcare professionals (Immunisation)
  • Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine
  • Meningococcal B immunization Programme- Factsheet for Healthcare professionals
  • MMR Vaccine advice
  • DTaP/IPV Booster Vaccines (preschool booster)

Targeted programmes (COVID-19, combined COVID-19 and flu, measles, RSV)

COVID-19

Combined COVID-19 and flu

Measles:

  • Measles awareness session provides guidance and information to promote and educate around Measles, MMR and the catch-up campaign.
Remote video URL

RSV 

Training materials:

RSV publications:

BCG (tuberculosis)

Hepatitis B - Includes: Universal hepatitis B programme and hepatitis B vaccine for at risk babies, Clinical guidelines on hepatitis B

Influenza (flu) - Includes: Children, adults, pregnant women and healthcare workers - Flu resources for professionals

HPV vaccine - Includes: Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM)

Pregnant women - Includes: Flu, pertussis, MMR, hepatitis B and syphilis advice

Shingles Factsheet on shingles vaccination

Splenectomy - Includes: MenACWY, pneumococcal, flu, Factsheet on splenectomy

Travel vaccines (National Travel and Health Network, Travax) - NATHNAC support for those providing health information to people going travelling , Travel health information from TRAVAX

Vaccinations in pregnancy (professional resources)

The following resources and guidelines are for the use of professionals. The resources for members of the public are on the Public resources page

Flu

RSV

Pertussis (whooping cough)

Having conversations about vaccination

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Recording a vaccination

Community and voluntary sector professionals

under construction

Educators (school teachers and principals)

Healthcare professionals (e-learning, standards training, PGDs, storage)

Patient Group Directives (PGDs):

The PHA and Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) PGD Development Group have adapted Public Health England national PGDs for use in Northern Ireland, with their permission. They can be used to facilitate the delivery of Immunizations in HSC, in line with national recommendations.

Currently PGDs for Regional Immunisation Programmes are accessed on the HSCB Integrated Care or Trust Intranet websites.

E-learning modules:

The e-learning for health (e-lfh) general immunisation modules provide training for many of the standards outlined in the National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Immunisation Training for Registered Healthcare Practitioners:

  • Immunology & Assessment
  • Communicating with patients, parents and carers
  • Legal Aspects & Assessment
  • Vaccine Storage & Assessment
  • Vaccine Administration & Assessment 

Health professionals working in Health and Social Care (HSC) in Northern Ireland can access e-lfh immunisation modules with their hscni.net email address.

Standards and core curriculum for immunisation training:

The National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Immunisation Training for Registered Healthcare Practitioners, February 2018, provide minimum standards and the core curriculum for health professionals requiring training in vaccinations.

Immunisation documents previously published by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) have now been incorporated into this document. The Public Health Agency endorses the advice and recommendations provided.

Vaccine handling and storage guidance for primary care settings:

The PHA and HSCB have jointly produced regional guidance for General Practices for safe and effective handling and storage of vaccines.  

Key resources

Vaccination coverage reports and statistics on uptake

Statistics on uptake of vaccine programmes

Annual immunisation report

The PHA Immunisation Team publishes the Annual Immunisation Report at the end of each calendar year. This provides information on vaccine uptake across:

  • Preschool immunisation programmes,
  • School-based immunisation programmes,
  • Adult immunisation programmes in Northern Ireland.

Quarterly coverage reports

Quartely reports on vaccine coverage are also available for:

  • Preschool vaccine programmes,
  • School based vaccine programmes,
  • Pregnancy vaccine programmes,
  • Elderly vaccine programmes.

Statistics on burden of vaccine-preventable diseases

The Annual Epidemiology of Vaccine-Preventable Disease Report for the latest calendar year in the first quarter of the following year. This provides information on the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases in Northern Ireland.

Annul immunisation and vaccine-preventable disease reports: view reports here

PHA's key areas of work

  • Leading and coordinating vaccine programmes
  • Planning and introduction of new vaccine programmes
  • Providing training resources for those delivering vaccine programmes
  • Providing expert immunisation advice
  • Monitoring uptake and vaccine preventable disease surveillance
  • Working with the public to understand their views on vaccines
  • Working closely with organisations to maintain and improve high uptake, particularly targeting groups who may have lower uptake
  • Responding to cases of vaccine preventable diseases
  • Maintaining and improving high uptake of the childhood vaccines particularly targeting areas / groups with comparatively low uptake
  • Building on recently introduced HPV vaccine programme
  • Screening health care workers for measles immunity and vaccinating those not immune
  • Providing advice to health professionals through the duty room

Communications toolkit (social media resources)

Access social media resources for vaccination programmes pages to promote vaccination programmes on your channels.

Use the social media assets and messaging below to spread awareness and promote vaccination programmes running in Northern Ireland.  

Check Public Health Agency's social media channels, subscribe to stay up-to-date on the latest vaccination programme campaigns:  

Vaccine management system (VMS)

Vaccine management system (VMS)

The Vaccine Management System (VMS) is a Northern Ireland's system for managing vaccinations.  It enables:

  • Recording of vaccines by healthcare professional
  • Data analysis to monitor coverage
  • Online appointment booking for citizens