Vaccine preventable diseases and immunisation programmes

Vaccinations are one of the most effective ways to save lives and improve health, second only to clean water.

Northern Ireland offers a comprehensive vaccination programme, free for eligible individuals based on age or risk group, to protect against serious diseases.

Historically, Northern Ireland has achieved some of the highest immunisation uptake rates globally, thanks to the dedication of healthcare professionals. Maintaining this success is essential to reduce the spread of infectious diseases and safeguard public health.

Immunisation protects against serious diseases, reducing risk for individuals and communities, detailed information can be found on the pages of Immunisation and vaccinations | nidirect.
 

How vaccination programmes work in Northern Ireland

The Department of Health selects vaccination programmes based on expert advice, and delivery involves collaboration between healthcare providers, public health experts, and other organisations.These include government departments, public health experts, academic researchers, commissioners, pharmacists, school health teams, health visitors and GPs.

Programme types:

  • Universal - offered to everyone (e.g., school-based programmes)
  • Targeted - for those at higher risk (e.g., pregnancy, or elderly programmes)

Examples include:

  • Preschool vaccine programmes
  • School based vaccine programmes
  • Pregnancy vaccine programmes
  • Elderly vaccine programmes
  • Targeted programmes for adults and children
  • Health and Social Care Occupational Health vaccine programmes

Key programme: Influenza (flu)

The Influenza (flu) vaccine programme is the largest, most comprehensive programme, running from October to March for:

  • Children
  • Adults
  • Health and social care workers

 

Vaccination programmes advice and schedules:

Childhood immunisations and schedules

Childhood immunisations

Protecting children from an early age is vital to their health.

There are vaccines to protect children against:

Parental webinars:

MMR vaccine:

  • Protects your child against measles, mumps and rubella (German measles).
  • Given as a single injection containing three vaccines.
  • Schedule: 1st dose: just after your child's first birthday, 2nd dose: at three years and four months old.
  • Why it's important: Measles, mumps and rubella can cause severe complications. Early vaccination is critical to keep your child safe. Click for more information and advice on MMR. 
     

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

 

Selective childhood immunisation programmes

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)

Vaccination during pregnancy and recommended schedule

Vaccination during pregnancy helps protect both mother and baby.

Vaccination during pregnancy can help prevent disease or make illness less serious for you, and for your baby. This is because the antibodies (natural substances your body produces to fight infection) are passed to your unborn baby, helping to protect them in their first few weeks of life.  

Key advice and resources:

Flu (influenza)

RSV

Whooping cough (Pertussis)

 

Protecting your baby from:

  • Hepatitis B: protect your baby from Hep B with timely vaccination.
  • Rubella: learn about risks of rubella during your pregnancy.

Pregnancy webinars

 

Recommended schedule:

Vaccine When to have the vaccine 

Whooping Cough (Pertussis) immunisation

 

Offered from 16 weeks. 

The best time to have the whooping cough vaccine is from 16 to 32 weeks of pregnancy. You can have it up until your baby is born, but it may be less effective later in pregnancy.

How to protect your baby from RSV

Offered from 28 weeks. 

The best time to have the RSV vaccine is from 28 to 36 weeks of pregnancy. You can have it up until your baby is born, but it may be less effective later in pregnancy.  

Influenza (flu) vaccine

Offered during flu season (which may be at any time during your pregnancy). 

You should have the flu vaccine as soon as it is offered to you.  

COVID-19 (coronavirus) 

Offered during COVID-19 season in line with government guidance (which may be at any time during your pregnancy). 

You should have the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it is offered to you.  

Vaccination for older adults (aged 65 years and over)

Different immunisations are available for adults aged 65 years and over.

Vaccinations play crucial role in protecting older adults from age-related health risks.

  • Influenza: annual flu vaccines reduce the risk of severe illness.
  • Shingles: protects against painful and potentially long-lasting shingles infections.

Targeted programmes (adults)

Targeted programmes

BCG (tuberculosis) 

Hepatitis B

Influenza (flu)

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

Splenectomy

Travel vaccines (National Travel and Health Network, Travax)

 

HPV vaccination for gay and bisexual men (GBMSM)

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is offered to all eligible gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) attending GUM and/or HIV clinics across Northern Ireland. Most of the clinics began offering the HPV vaccine during October 2016 and all clinics have been offering the vaccine since January 2017. 

This is in line with advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which recommends a targeted vaccination programme for GBMSM aged up to 45 who attend GUM and HIV clinics.

Studies have shown that GBMSM aged up to 45 years who attend GUM or HIV clinics are at greater risk of HPV-associated cancers and genital warts. The HPV vaccine helps prevent infection that can cause genital warts and HPV-associated cancers. Vaccination is especially important for GBMSM who have multiple sexual partners.

Download the information leaflet here.

MMR catch-up campaign 2024

First and second doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine are being offered until 31 March 2024 to anyone aged between 12 months and 25 years who missed getting the vaccines first time around.

Find out more at www.nidirect.gov.uk/mmr

mmr

 

 

 

 

 

After clean water, vaccination is the most effective public health intervention in the world for saving lives and promoting good health.

The childhood vaccination programme has been a tremendous success in Northern Ireland over recent years. Our uptake rates are at an all-time high and Northern Ireland has uptake rates well above the UK average.

This is a tremendous tribute to GPs and all their staff, health visitors and everyone else involved in the vaccination programme who have worked so hard to achieve this.

The seasonal flu vaccine programme is also very successful, with Northern Ireland achieving the highest uptake in the UK.

The areas covered by the vaccination team include childhood vaccines, influenza vaccines, travel vaccines, occupational health vaccines, and the surveillance and control of vaccine preventable diseases.

Travel vaccines

For travel health advice and vaccines, visit:

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