Vaccine preventable diseases and immunisation programmes

Introduction

There is overwhelming evidence to demonstrate that after clean water, immunisations is the most effective public health intervention in the world for saving lives and promoting good health.

Northern Ireland has a very comprehensive vaccine programme, free at the point of delivery for those eligible by virtue of age or risk group status. Historically, Northern Ireland has had some of the highest immunisation uptakes worldwide. This is a tremendous tribute to GPs and all their staff, health visitors and everyone else involved in the vaccination programme that have worked very hard to achieve this and has undoubtedly contributed to reducing infectious diseases in Northern Ireland. However, it is important that we don’t become complacent and continue to maintain the high uptake that has been achieved in the past.  

In Northern Ireland, the Government (Department of Health) decides on what vaccination programmes should be offered to the population based on advice from a national independent scientific committee. It then takes the hard work of many organisations from Health and Social Care and beyond (such as education), to deliver successful programmes so that everyone that needs a vaccine is able to receive it. These include government departments, public health experts, academic researchers, commissioners, pharmacists, school health teams, health visitors and GPs.

Vaccination programmes are either universal, where all of the population receive the vaccine, or targeted, where just those at greater risk receive the vaccine and include:

  1. Preschool vaccine programmes
  2. School based vaccine programmes
  3. Pregnancy vaccine programmes
  4. Elderly vaccine programmes
  5. Targeted programmes for adults and children
  6. Health and Social Care Occupational Health vaccine programmes

The Influenza (flu) Vaccine programme is our largest, most comprehensive programme and is delivered every year between October and March to children, adults, and health and social care workers.

National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and TRAVAX websites provides travel health advice, including information on travel vaccines, for health professionals advising people going travelling.

 

Key areas of ongoing 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

Key resources

Infectious diseases:


Influenza:

Travel vaccines sites:


Other Resources:

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.

HPV vaccine for gay 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.

Vaccination programmes coverage reports

Statistics on uptake of vaccine programmes

The PHA Immunisation Team publishes the Annual Immunisation Report at the end of each calendar year. This provides information on vaccine uptake for preschool, school and adult immunisation programmes in Northern Ireland.

Quarterly coverage reports on the below programmes are available here.

  • 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.

Annual report

Click here to view the 'Annual Immunisation and Vaccine Preventable Diseases' reports.

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