AQW 51268/22-27
Ms Connie Egan
Alliance Party
North Down
Tabled Date: 08/09/2026
Answered On Date: 29/09/2026
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any steps his Department has taken, in the last two years, to increase uptake of the 6-in-1 vaccine.
Answer:
The Public Health Agency (PHA) is responsible for the delivery of vaccination programmes in Northern Ireland and undertakes a range of measures to support and promote vaccine uptake. To address declining uptake in pre-school vaccinations, including the 6-in-1 vaccine, the PHA has established an Improving Childhood Vaccine Uptake Working Group to identify barriers and implement measures to improve coverage. Actions include: improving the Child Health System, developing targeted information resources for groups with lower uptake, providing training and resources through Sure Start, delivering outreach clinics in communities with lower vaccination rates, promoting immunisation within medical and nursing education, and hosting webinars for healthcare professionals and other key stakeholders. The PHA is also exploring the potential migration from the Child Health System to a new regional information system that supports the delivery and monitoring of children's health services. The new system would enhance support for childhood vaccination programmes, by improving vaccination recording and reporting, and strengthen the use of data to identify and address inequalities in uptake. In addition, the PHA participates in the UK Forum to Facilitate Discussion on Declining Coverage and Inequalities, which enables collaboration and the sharing of best practice across the UK nations. In July 2026, PHA established an Oversight Board for the Improvement of Vaccination Uptake to provide strategic leadership across all vaccination programmes. The Board will oversee work to improve vaccination coverage, address inequalities, and develop a refreshed action plan to tackle declining uptake in childhood immunisations, including the 6-in-1 vaccine.
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