The Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding parents of children who will be entering year 9 in September that they will be offered the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine during the first school term. This year teenagers will only require a single HPV jab, following updated advice from Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The change reflects evidence building up over recent years from a range of studies from around the world that shows that a single dose of the HPV vaccine offers robust protection that is comparable to two doses. Based on the evidence, other countries, such

The Public Health Agency (PHA) has today launched a new service for young people to improve their sexual health and wellbeing and help reduce the number of new sexually transmitted infections (STI) diagnoses in Northern Ireland. Barbara Porter, Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement Manager at the PHA, said: “The ‘C-Card Scheme’ is a confidential sexual health service for young people aged 16-25 years old. "Once registered, each young person will receive a ‘credit card-style card’ that will enable them to avail of free condoms and lubricant, information support and advice at convenient times

A new campaign focussing on the importance of childhood immunisations has been launched in pharmacies across Northern Ireland. The ‘childhood immunisation’ campaign highlights the importance of vaccination and the protection provided by the childhood immunisation programme. The campaign is running in community pharmacies throughout August and September as part of the Living Well service. Living Well is offered in over 500 pharmacies across Northern Ireland and provides information and advice on public health issues. It is delivered in partnership with the Public Health Agency (PHA), Community

Ahead of Cycle to Work Day on Thursday 3 August, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging everyone to leave the car at home and hop on their bike to work. By switching up your daily commute and choosing to cycle you can reap many benefits for your physical and mental health. Gerard Walls, Senior Health and Social Wellbeing Officer at the PHA, said: “Cycling to work is a great way to get moving and incorporate more physical activity into your daily routine. It’s also a fun and easy method of transport, allowing you to switch off and enjoy a journey that is less stressful than travelling by

The ‘Childhood immunisation’ campaign highlights the importance of vaccination and the protection provided by the childhood immunisation programme. The campaign is running in community pharmacies throughout August and September as part of the Living Well service. Living Well is a community-based pharmacy service offered in over 500 pharmacies across Northern Ireland. It is delivered in partnership with the Public Health Agency (PHA), Community Pharmacy NI (CPNI), and the Department of Health (DoH). The service supports you in improving your health and wellbeing by: • raising awareness of

The Public Health Dietitians Group (PHDG) has launched a new video series on its YouTube channel ‘Public Health Dietitians’ showing how you can eat well on a budget. With the current cost of living crisis putting pressure on many households in Northern Ireland, the ‘Shop, Cook and Save’ series aims to show how you can make healthier choices and save money by batch cooking, saving on your weekly shop, easy cooking for one, and storing and reheating food safely. The ‘Public Health Dietitians’ channel is a partnership between the PHDG Northern Ireland and the Public Health Agency (PHA) and can be

Ahead of World Breastfeeding Week on Tuesday 1 August, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is highlighting the importance of supporting breastfeeding mothers at every stage of their journey by showcasing the experience of breastfeeding mums and speaking to those who have supported them on their journey. Between 2010–2020 the rates of breastfeeding in NI at discharge rose from 45% to 50%, however there is a big drop off with only 21% receiving breastmilk at 6 months. Feedback indicates this is often because there is a lack of support, particularly when feeding outside the home, with 9 out of 10