Data were correct at 18 October 2026.

1 Summary

2 COVID-19 Autumn 2026 Vaccination Campaign

The COVID-19 Autumn 2026 vaccination campaign commenced in Northern Ireland on 01 October 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 18 October 2026 was 28,325. Vaccine uptake in Autumn 2026 to date was highest in care home residents (21.9%) (Figure 2.1).

Cumulative COVID-19 Autumn 2026/27 vaccination uptake by eligible group in Northern Ireland.

Figure 2.1: Cumulative COVID-19 Autumn 2026/27 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 Antrim and Newtownabbey (17.3%) and Lisburn and Castlereagh (16.8%) and lowest in Mid Ulster (7.9%) (Figure 2.2).

COVID-19 Autumn 2026 vaccination uptake in individuals aged 75 years and older by Local Government District in Northern Ireland.

Figure 2.2: COVID-19 Autumn 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 13.5% in those aged 75-79 years to 15% in those aged 80 years and over (Figure 2.3).

COVID-19 Autumn 2026 vaccination uptake in individuals aged 75 years and older by age band in Northern Ireland.

Figure 2.3: COVID-19 Autumn 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 Ards and North Down (16.1%) and lowest in Mid Ulster (3.7%) (Figure 2.4).

COVID-19 Autumn 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 Autumn 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 3.4% in those aged 18-24 years to 16.6% in those aged 70-74 years. (Figure 2.5).
COVID-19 Autumn 2026 vaccination uptake in individuals aged 18 to 74 years who were immunosuppressed by age band in Northern Ireland.

Figure 2.5: COVID-19 Autumn 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 16.6% in Southern HSC Trust (SHSCT) to 29% in Northern HSC Trust (NHSCT) (Figure 2.6).

COVID-19 Autumn 2026 vaccination uptake in care home residents by Trust in Northern Ireland.

Figure 2.6: COVID-19 Autumn 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 | Autumn 2026 COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign.

4 Methods

Data is presented to the end of the last reporting week for COVID-19 Autumn 2026 vaccinations, Sunday 18 October 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 Autumn 2026 vaccination is defined as any vaccination recorded on the VMS administered from 01 October 2026 to the end of the campaign.

4.1.1 Adult vaccinations by age group

Age for adult vaccinations is based on age at 31 March 2027. The age group based population is based on the NISRA mid-year estimate (2025).

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 2026 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 Autumn 2026 vaccinations and vaccination uptake by eligible group in Northern Ireland.

Group

Number vaccinated

Population

Vaccine uptake (%)

75 years and over

24,037

167,417

14.4

18-74 years 'immunosuppressed'

3,657

40,452

9.0

Care Home residents

2,954

13,490

21.9

Table 2: Number of COVID-19 Autumn 2026 vaccinations and 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

2,249

12,981

17.3

Ards and North Down

3,235

19,660

16.5

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon

2,446

18,376

13.3

Belfast

4,115

24,518

16.8

Causeway Coast and Glens

1,492

14,119

10.6

Derry City and Strabane

1,952

11,720

16.7

Fermanagh and Omagh

940

10,894

8.6

Lisburn and Castlereagh

2,360

14,011

16.8

Mid Ulster

924

11,626

7.9

Mid and East Antrim

2,107

14,152

14.9

Newry, Mourne and Down

1,522

15,360

9.9

Table 3: Number of COVID-19 Autumn 2026 vaccinations and vaccination uptake in individuals aged 75 years and over by age band in Northern Ireland.

Age Band

Number vaccinated

Population

Vaccine uptake (%)

75-79

9,747

72,152

13.5

80+

14,290

95,265

15.0

Table 4: Number of COVID-19 Autumn 2026 vaccinations and 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

264

2,885

9.2

Ards and North Down

573

3,562

16.1

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon

385

4,553

8.5

Belfast

698

7,831

8.9

Causeway Coast and Glens

206

2,993

6.9

Derry City and Strabane

347

3,054

11.4

Fermanagh and Omagh

130

2,367

5.5

Lisburn and Castlereagh

437

3,426

12.8

Mid Ulster

107

2,915

3.7

Mid and East Antrim

287

2,800

10.2

Newry, Mourne and Down

220

3,804

5.8

Table 5: Number of COVID-19 Autumn 2026 vaccinations and 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

40

1,177

3.4

25-29

45

1,216

3.7

30-34

90

1,745

5.2

35-39

105

2,478

4.2

40-44

167

3,075

5.4

45-49

192

3,595

5.3

50-54

279

3,911

7.1

55-59

448

5,154

8.7

60-64

613

6,243

9.8

65-69

744

6,233

11.9

70-74

934

5,625

16.6

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

Trust

Number vaccinated

Population

Vaccine uptake (%)

BHSCT

500

2,680

18.7

NHSCT

1,021

3,521

29.0

SEHSCT

731

3,201

22.8

SHSCT

370

2,224

16.6

WHSCT

331

1,864

17.8