Vaccine Management System (VMS)
The Public Health Agency (PHA) operates the Vaccination Management System (VMS), which serves as Northern Ireland’s system of record for six key vaccination programmes:
- Influenza (excluding vaccinations administered in schools)
- RSV
- Shingles
- Pertussis
- COVID-19
- MMR (adult vaccinations only)
How VMS is used
1. Vaccination recording
Healthcare professionals working in primary care (GPs), community pharmacies (CPs), and Health and Social Care Trusts (HSCTs) are responsible for recording the administration of vaccinations in VMS.
2. Data analysis and surveillance
PHA staff have access to the complete vaccination record for each programme. This data is used to conduct analyses and support surveillance activities, enabling the PHA to monitor vaccination coverage and support programme operations.
3. Online booking platform
Citizens can use an online platform to book appointments at Trust-operated vaccination clinics. This service provides easy access to vaccination services for eligible individuals.
Development and history of VMS
The VMS was originally developed by Digital Health and Care Northern Ireland (DHCNI) during the COVID-19 pandemic to streamline vaccination process and manage the large-scale vaccine rollout.
How to access vaccination information and book appointments
For more information on vaccination programmes, including eligibility criteria, visit nidirect.
If you are eligible to receive vaccination at a Trust clinic, you can book your appointment through the VMS booking platform.
Data protection and privacy
The latest versions of the VMS Data Protection Impact Assessment and Privacy Notice are available for review on this page.
COVID-19 vaccination dashboard
Additionally, you can view the COVID-19 vaccinations dashboard, which provides real time data based on the information collected through VMS.