Practice News

RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) Vaccination is now being offered in Northern Ireland to:

Adults aged 80 years and over

This is in addition to the existing groups who are eligible for RSV vaccination

Residents in care home for older adults

Adults turning 75 years

Adults aged 75 to 79 years when the programme began

Pregnant women (to protect their babies after they are born)

Older adults

People who have not yet received an RSV vaccination and are over the age of 75 will be invited by their GP practice. We urge everyone who is eligible to take up the offer promptly when contacted by their surgery. Residents in care homes and those who are housebound will be offered vaccination from their local HSC Trust vaccination team.

Those who are eligible for both RSV and spring COVID-19 vaccinations may be offered them at the same time by their GP practice once the spring 2026 COVID-19 campaign begins on 20 April 2026, in line with JCVI guidance.

Pregnant women

There is no change to the existing programme for RSV vaccination to pregnant women, who are being offered the vaccine during antenatal appointments with their midwife from 28 weeks into their pregnancy. The timing of the vaccine offer will help protect their newborn babies from serious illness caused by an RSV infection. 

View information on the RSV vaccine for adults at 

Immunisation and vaccinations / nidirect

Covid Spring Booster 2026

Shingles vaccination programme

On 1 September 2025, the Northern Ireland Shingles vaccination programme changed to allow all severely immunosuppressed people aged 18 years and over to receive the shingles vaccine. This is an expansion of the current severely immunosuppressed cohort, who until now became eligible from aged 50 years of age. There is now no upper age limit for the severely immunosuppressed cohort of patients.

Severely immunosuppressed individuals who have already received 2 doses of Shingrix do not need re-vaccination.
Severely immunosuppressed individuals who had received Zostavax prior to developing immunosuppression should be offered 2 doses of Shingrix®.

The age-based eligibility remains unchanged with individuals becoming eligible if they are aged 65 or 70 on 1 September each year and remaining eligible until their 80th birthday

Further Information:

• Shingles Information
• Shingles Information Booklet

Fear of Flying - prescribing of benzodiazepines

After careful consideration, we will no longer prescribe benzodiazepines or sedatives (such as diazepam) for patients experiencing fear of flying. Many other GP practices have adopted similar policies.

Patients sometimes request diazepam to help manage a fear of flying or to aid sleep during flights.

The following guide outlines why this medication is no longer prescribed by our practice for flying-related anxiety:

Why Diazepam Is Not Prescribed for Flying Anxiety

Safety Risk in Emergencies: Benzodiazepines cause delayed reaction times and slower thinking. In the event of an in-flight emergency, this could impair your ability to respond appropriately, putting your safety—and that of others—at risk.

Increased Risk of Blood Clots: Although Diazepam may help you fall asleep during a flight, it induces non-REM sleep, which reduces natural movement. This immobility increases the risk of blood clots (deep vein thrombosis, or DVT), particularly on flights longer than four hours. Such clots can be life-threatening.

Paradoxical Reactions: While Diazepam is usually sedating, a small percentage of individuals experience the opposite effect: agitation, aggression, or disinhibition. These behaviours could endanger yourself and others, and may lead to legal consequences.

Increased Risks with Alcohol: The combination of benzodiazepines and alcohol magnifies all the risks outlined above.

Guideline Restrictions: The British National Formulary (BNF) contraindicates the use of Diazepam for treating phobic states and discourages its use for short-term, mild anxiety. Prescribing against these guidelines may expose your doctor to legal liability.

NICE Guidance: According to NICE guidelines, medications should not be used for mild, self-limiting mental health disorders. In more significant anxiety-related conditions, benzodiazepines, sedating antihistamines, or antipsychotics are also not recommended.

Legal Risks Abroad: In some countries, including parts of the Middle East, it is illegal to import benzodiazepines. They may be confiscated, and you could face legal repercussions.

Workplace Drug Testing: Diazepam remains in your system for an extended period. If your employment involves drug testing, you could fail a test after taking it.

Link to Dementia: Long-term benzodiazepine use has been associated with an increased risk of developing dementia.

Childhood immunisation schedule changes

The NI childhood immunisation schedule is changing giving even better protection with the introduction of the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine.

From January 2026, eligible children will be offered a combined vaccine for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) -  as part of the routine infant vaccination schedule.

As with other childhood immunisations, parents will be contacted with an appointment if their child is eligible.  If you are unsure if your child is up to date with vaccinations the easiest way to check is to look at your child's red book or speak to your health visitor or GP.

Immunisation and vaccinations / nidirect

Waiting list reimbursement scheme

You may have heard about the reimbursement scheme on recent news. 

There is an application form for reimbursement and a telephone number. 

Should you wish to find out more, please use the link below for further information.

Waiting List Reimbursement Scheme