Understanding childhood vaccine uptake in Northern Ireland 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding trends and sociodemographic factors associated with childhood vaccination uptake in Northern Ireland: A national data linkage study
IRAS ID
360702
Contact name
Lynsey Patterson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen's University Belfast
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Over the last 10 years, there is evidence that childhood vaccination rates have been steadily declining globally, leaving those who are unable or unwilling to receive vaccinations increasingly vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases. This downward trend coincides with a rise in hesitancy towards vaccines, as parents grow increasingly unsure about whether to vaccinate their children. In Northern Ireland (NI), falling childhood vaccination rates are a significant public health concern, with coverage for all routine childhood vaccinations at 1,2 and 5 years of age sitting below targets set by the World Health Organization. Unless this downward trend is addressed, we are likely to see a rise in vaccine-preventable disease cases, as evidenced by the recent re-emergence of measles cases in NI. This could result in increased illness, avoidable deaths, and further strain on an already pressured healthcare system.
Studies show that various sociodemographic and health factors across multiple populations and vaccine types are associated with childhood vaccination uptake. These factors play an essential role in shaping parents’ vaccination behaviours by influencing their perception and knowledge of vaccination efficacy and safety, as well as their access to healthcare resources and trust in medical professionals. However, the factors which influence uptake in NI are not well-defined.
This study intends to investigate the maternal social, cultural, and structural drivers of childhood vaccination uptake in NI (as parents are ultimately the key decision makers on whether a child receives a vaccination), with the goal of guiding the development of targeted solutions to empower parental vaccine decision-making and address potential inequalities in uptake across the region. This will be a population-based data-linkage study, linking pseudonymised Health and Social care and Census data to childhood MMR (mumps, measles, rubella) vaccine coverage across NI.
REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
25/NI/0169
Date of REC Opinion
9 Dec 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion