Health professional resources
Resources for health professionals
Use the menu below to access the information about vaccination programmes, guidelines, publications and training materials for health professionals.
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.
Policy documents are available on the Department of Health website.
The Green Book
Immunisation against infectious diseases, commonly known as the Green Book, provides authoritative guidance on vaccination policy and practice.
Training and programme resources
Flu vaccination programme 2024-25: Training and guidance
Vaccine programmes information: resources
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Vaccine type |
Information for healthcare professionals |
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General professional information |
Vaccination of individuals with uncertain or incomplete immunisation status PHA immunisation resources for health professionals |
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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 |
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Pre-school immunisations (aged 2–4 years) Includes: Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, MMR |
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Immunisations for 12–13 year olds Includes: Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, MenACWY, MMR, HPV |
Factsheet on MenACWY immunisation for teenagers |
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MenACWY |
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Men B |
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Pertussis (whooping cough) Includes: Infants, pre-school aged children and pregnant women |
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Rotavirus |
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Targeted programmes |
Information for healthcare professionals |
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BCG (tuberculosis) |
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Hepatitis B Includes: Universal hepatitis B programme and hepatitis B vaccine for at risk babies |
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Influenza (flu) Includes: Children, adults, pregnant women and healthcare workers |
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HPV vaccine Includes: Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) |
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Pregnant women Includes: Flu, pertussis, MMR, hepatitis B and syphilis advice |
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Shingles |
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Splenectomy Includes: MenACWY, pneumococcal, flu |
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Travel vaccines (National |
NATHNAC support for those providing health information to people going travelling |
Preschool vaccination programme: factsheets and training materials
Routine childhood immunisation programme poster
Childhood immunisations: general guidance information on delivery
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: including COVID-19 boosters, and combined COVID-19 and flu programmes)
Webinars (measles, parental, teachers, and the pregnancy)
Covering topics such as measles, pregnancy, parental guidance, and teacher focus resources.
Teachers webinars
- HPV promotional video Schools 2024.pptx
- Teenage vaccination: information for teachers (video)
- Measles Awareness Session provides guidance and information to promote and educate around Measles, MMR and the catch-up campaign.
- Measles Cases Europe Measles on the rise in the EU/EEA - 16 February 2024 (europa.eu)).
- Measles Cases Europe A 30-fold rise of measles cases in 2023 in the WHO European Region warrants urgent action
- Measles cases England - National Measles Standard Incident - measles epidemiology (from October 2023) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- Measles cases Northern Ireland - Measles | HSC Public Health Agency (hscni.net)
Pregnancy webinars
Parental webinars
- General childhood immunisation: webinar for parents
RSV vaccination resources
Publications and training materials:
Training materials:
- RSV vaccination training slides_maternal programme for infant protection 08.2024
- RSV vaccination training slides_adult programme 08.24
RSV publications:
- Your guide to the RSV vaccine for older adults | HSC Public Health Agency (hscni.net)
- Protect your baby from RSV bronchiolitis with your RSV vaccine from week 28 of your pregnancy | HSC Public Health Agency (hscni.net)
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 and is available here.
Vaccination guidance for special cases
Guidance for health professional in cases of patients vaccinated in other countries or with uncertain vaccination history.
Managing incomplete immunisation histories using UKHSA algorithm training video and presentation PHA incomplete vaccination slides.
Vaccination of individuals with uncertain or incomplete immunisation status, Public Health England, one-page summary to help health professionals vaccinate people correctly to protect them and their families from disease.
United Kingdom and international immunisation schedules comparison tool, Public Health England, to help health professionals ascertain vaccines individuals moving aboard may have received.
Vaccine schedules in all countries of the European Union, European Centre of Disease Control, an interactive tool that shows vaccination schedules for EU/EEA countries.
WHO link on vaccine programmes
Translated immunisation invitation letters, Public Health Agency
Patient Group Directives
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.
Social media resources
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: