A new public health campaign titled 'Immunise, Protect, Thrive' has been introduced across community pharmacies in Northern Ireland to underscore the critical role of childhood vaccinations.

Running throughout February and March 2026, the initiative supports significant updates to the routine vaccination schedule that came into effect on 1 January.

The campaign is delivered through the Living Well service, a partnership between the Public Health Agency (PHA), Community Pharmacy NI, and the Department of Health. With more than 500 participating pharmacies, the programme provides accessible advice and information to families, aiming to reverse a recent decline in uptake that has seen the return of diseases like measles. Geraldine Mallon, Immunisation Project Operations Manager at the PHA, emphasised that vaccination is the most effective global health intervention after clean water. She warned that while diseases such as polio and diphtheria are currently rare in Northern Ireland, a continued drop in vaccination rates could see these serious infections return from other parts of the world, placing unvaccinated children at risk of life-changing complications.

The recently updated schedule includes the landmark introduction of the varicella vaccine, marking the first time children in Northern Ireland will receive free protection against chickenpox. This is being delivered through a combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine.

Siobhan McNulty, owner of Melvin Pharmacy in Garrison, Co Fermanagh, noted that community pharmacists are ideally placed to support the campaign. As trusted healthcare professionals who are often the first point of contact for families, pharmacists can provide essential reassurance and dispel common myths or misconceptions regarding immunisations.

Parents and guardians will be contacted directly by their GP surgery when their child becomes eligible for an appointment. For those who are unsure if their child's vaccinations are current, health officials recommend checking the child's personal health record, commonly known as the 'red book', or consulting a health visitor or GP.