Updated | 19/08/24 @ 16:00
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COVID19 Vaccine Programme
When?
Ongoing and the Autumn programmes commences 1st October 2024
Who is eligible?
- Trust Staff
- Clinically Extremely Vulnerable – individuals who are at high risk for severe illness due to certain medical conditions
- Housebound Patients on General Practitioner (GP) List
- Eligible age cohort
- PSD is required for anyone who does not fall into the above categories.
Who can get a COVID-19 vaccine?
To be eligible to be vaccinated as part of the Northern Ireland vaccination programme you generally have to be registered with a GP in Northern Ireland and be over 5 years old. First dose, second dose and booster vaccinations are available to all those aged 5 years and above and eligible for a jab.
If you’re not registered with a GP in NI but live here or are temporarily a resident in NI, you can probably still receive a vaccine but you should email the Department of Health at the email address below and they will advise you how you can be vaccinated.
covid-19vaccinationprogramme@health-ni.gov.uk
Please check the online booking platform or contact the telephone booking line for further information.
How to book
Book your vaccine appointment online or call the Booking Line on 028 7161 0753 . The booking line will be open Monday – Friday, 9.00am – 5.00pm
About COVID-19 vaccination, safety and side effects
COVID19 vaccines are offered because viruses change and protection fades over time. It’s important to top up your protection if you’re at increased risk of serious illness from COVID19.
Getting a COVID19 vaccine can:
- help to reduce your risk of getting severe symptoms
- help you to recover more quickly if you catch COVID19
- help to reduce your risk of having to go to hospital or dying from COVID19
- protect against different strains of COVID19
Find out more about getting a COVID19 vaccine, including if you’re eligible and how to get it
Information:
There is a chance you might still get or spread COVID19 even if you have a vaccine, so it’s important to follow advice about how to avoid catching and spreading COVID19.
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Flu Vaccine Programme
When?
Commences 1st of October 2024
Who is eligible?
- Trust Staff
- Clinically Extremely Vulnerable – individuals who are at high risk for severe illness due to certain medical conditions
- Housebound Patients
- Eligible age cohort
Flu vaccine
The flu vaccine helps protect against flu, which can be a serious or life-threatening illness. It’s offered on the NHS every year in autumn or early winter to people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu.
Who should have the flu vaccine?
The flu vaccine is recommended for people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu.
It’s offered on the NHS every year in autumn or early winter.
You can get the free NHS flu vaccine if you:
- are aged 65 or over
- have certain long-term health conditions
- are pregnant
- live in a care home
- are the main carer for an older or disabled person, or receive a carer’s allowance
- live with someone who has a weakened immune system
Frontline health and social care workers can also get a flu vaccine through their employer.
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Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Vaccine Programme
When?
Ongoing
Who is eligible?
Pregnant women who are 16 – 32 weeks pregnant.
Whooping cough VACCINE
Whooping cough (pertussis) is an infection of the lungs and breathing tubes. It spreads very easily and can be serious. It’s important for babies, children and anyone who’s pregnant to get vaccinated against it.
When should I have the whooping cough vaccine?
You usually have the whooping cough vaccine at 20 weeks pregnant, but you can have it from 16 weeks.
If you are 20 weeks pregnant and have not been offered the whooping cough vaccine.
To give your baby the best protection against whooping cough, you should have the vaccine before 32 weeks of pregnancy. This maximises the chance that your baby will be protected from birth, through the transfer of your antibodies before they are born.
If for any reason you miss having the vaccine before 32 weeks, you can have it later, even after you give birth. However, this is not ideal, as your baby is less likely to get protection from you. At this stage, having the vaccination may not directly protect your baby, but would help protect you from whooping cough and from passing it on to your baby.
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Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine Programme
When?
Commencing 2nd September 2024 for 1 year
Who is eligible?
- Adults aged 75 to 79 years old
- Pregnant women will become eligible as they reach 28 weeks pregnant and remain eligible up to birth.
RSV Vaccine
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an enveloped RNA virus, in the same family as the human parainfluenza viruses and mumps and measles viruses. RSV is one of the common viruses that cause coughs and colds in winter. RSV is transmitted by large droplets and by secretions from contact with an infected person.
Infants under one year of age and the elderly are at the greatest risk of developing severe disease. While most RSV infections usually cause mild illness, infants aged less than 6 months frequently develop the most severe disease such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia, which may result in hospitalisation.
From 1 September 2024, 2 new respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programmes will be introduced:
Programme for older adults aged 75 to 79 years old
All adults turning 75 years old on or after 1 September 2024 will be eligible for the routine programme and should be offered a single dose of the RSV vaccine. A one-off catch-up campaign for those already aged 75 to 79 years old on 1 September 2024 will be undertaken at the earliest opportunity.
Programme for pregnant women to protect infants
All women who are at least 28 weeks pregnant (the eligible cohort) on 1 September 2024, will be offered a single dose of the RSV vaccine. After that, pregnant women will become eligible as they reach 28 weeks gestation and remain eligible up to birth.
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Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine Programme
When?
Ongoing
Who is eligible?
- All age groups over the age of 5 years old
- 2 vaccines required 4 weeks apart
How the MMR vaccine works
The MMR vaccine is a live vaccine that protects against measles, mumps and rubella. Two doses are given by injection into the leg or upper arm.
Your immune system responds to the vaccine by producing cells which recognize and remember each of the 3 viruses. If you are in contact with any of the diseases in the future, these cells will wake up and activate your body to rapidly produce antibodies. This protection is usually long lasting.
How safe is the vaccine?
The combined MMR vaccine has been safely protecting children for many years in many countries worldwide. In the UK, millions of doses have been given since it was introduced in 1988. Before vaccines can be used, they have to be thoroughly tested for safety. Although there may be some side effects from vaccination, they are usually mild and much less severe than the disease itself. Serious reactions following vaccination are rare.
Many studies have taken place to look at the safety and effectiveness of MMR vaccine. The evidence is clear that there is no link between MMR vaccine and autism.
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Vaccination Hubs
Our three Western Trust vaccination hubs are located at:
- Altnagelvin Area Hospital – Tower Block Level 5
- Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex – Outpatients Clinic
- South-West Acute Hospital – Key Worker Accommodation
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Book Your Vaccine Appointment
Coming Soon…
or call the Western Trust vaccine booking line on 02871610753
The booking line will be open Monday – Friday, 9.00am – 5.00pm
A limited number of walk-ins will be accommodated at each of our clinics.
- COVID-19 Vaccination Information Leaflets