![\"Stock](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_Mater-Hospital-01_JK.jpg\")
Stock image of an ambulance outside Mater Hospital, Belfast(Image: Justin Kernoghan\/Belfast Live)<\/p>\nThe health agency has issued guidance in the lead up to ChristmasStock image of an ambulance outside Mater Hospital, Belfast(Image: Justin Kernoghan\/Belfast Live)<\/p>\n
The Public Health Agency (PHA) has given an update on Northern Ireland<\/a> flu cases and hospitalisation. It comes as the health agency is urging everyone eligible for flu vaccination to take up the offer.<\/p>\n The latest respiratory report<\/a> shows flu activity has increased across all groups and settings that are monitored. Confirmed cases have increased from 988 to 1,227 while hospital admissions went from 264 to 346.<\/p>\n To date, almost 500,000 vaccines have been administered this season in Northern Ireland. The PHA said it remains the best defence against seasonal flu<\/a>, and they are urging people who are eligible to get the free vaccine ahead of Christmas.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Latest Northern Ireland A&E wait times today as flu cases surge<\/a>READ MORE: Co Derry principal says flu is ‘like Covid again’ as 170 pupils off sick on one day<\/a><\/p>\n Dr Joanne McClean, Director of Public Health at the PHA, said: \u201cVaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and others and we\u2019re pleased that nearly half a million people have already come forward to take up the offer of the seasonal influenza vaccine.<\/p>\n “However, with Christmas<\/a> fast approaching and the additional mixing that comes over the festive season, including visiting older and vulnerable relatives, we are encouraging eligible people to make arrangements to get vaccinated without delay.<\/p>\n \u201cThe flu vaccines used in the programme are proven to be safe and effective. Early estimates, which include evidence from Northern Ireland, demonstrate that this year\u2019s vaccine reduces the risk of being hospitalised with severe flu, with similar protection to previous years.<\/p>\n “More children have been admitted to hospital with influenza<\/a> than usual so far this year. The vaccine is very effective at protecting children from flu, so parents of children who haven\u2019t had their vaccine yet take steps to enable them to get it, as flu infection is now circulating widely in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n \u201cWe must not underestimate the seriousness of seasonal flu. It can result in hospitalisation, even for some otherwise healthy people. We have enough stock of vaccine for eligible people to avail of the offer. Vaccines are the best protection we have against these viruses so it\u2019s important that all those who are eligible get vaccinated as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n Vaccination arrangements<\/p>\n Everyone should also take common sense steps to reduce the spread of flu and other similar illnesses by exercising good respiratory and hand hygiene and staying away from others if we have symptoms.<\/p>\n Respiratory hygiene<\/p>\n In addition to eligible people getting vaccinated, everyone has a part to play in staying well this winter:<\/p>\n Due to the increased incidence of respiratory illnesses, including flu, trusts and other healthcare settings may put in place local arrangements to try to reduce spread, such as requesting the use of face coverings, so accommodating this will help protect everyone attending or working in those facilities.<\/p>\n Dr McClean concluded: \u201cIf you are eligible for the flu vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine or RSV vaccine, take up the offer to help protect yourself and those around you this winter.”<\/p>\n For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage<\/strong> here<\/a> and sign up to our daily newsletter<\/a> here.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The health agency has issued guidance in the lead up to ChristmasStock image of an ambulance outside Mater…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":627354,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5011],"tags":[35745,105,81144,1144,85199,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-627353","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-northern-ireland","8":"tag-christmas","9":"tag-health","10":"tag-in-the-know","11":"tag-northern-ireland","12":"tag-public-health-agency","13":"tag-uk","14":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115703938918422156","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/627353","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=627353"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/627353\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/627354"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=627353"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=627353"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=627353"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
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