Seniors

Influenza – flu – is a highly infectious and potentially serious illness caused by influenza viruses. Each year the make-up of the seasonal flu vaccine is designed to protect against the influenza viruses that the World Health Organization decide are most likely to be circulating in the coming winter.

Vaccination is strongly recommended for:

• persons 65 and over,
• those with a long-term medical condition such as diabetes, heart or lung disease,
• people whose immune system is impaired due to disease or treatment
• residents of nursing homes and other long stay institutions
• persons with a body mass index (BMI) over 40
• pregnant women.(can be given at any stage of pregnancy),
• healthcare workers
• carers
• people with regular close contact with poultry, water fowl or pigs.

For more information on flu immunisation, including background information on the vaccine and how you can get the jab, see the links below:

Flu Vaccinations

These are lots of ways to help keep yourself well and healthy as you age. The HSE provides some useful resources on different topics to help you find out more about keeping yourself healthy as you age.

• Healthy Living
• Blood Pressure
• Urinary Incontinence
• Oral Health
• Dementia
• Depression
• Drugs and Medicines
• Eyesight
• Fire Safety
• Foot Care
• Hearing
• Keeping Active
• Nutrition
• Road Safety
• Slips, Trips and Falls
• Strokes
• Heart Attacks
• Protecting Older People for Elder Abuse

The Citizens Information website also has useful information for older people:

• Health Services for Older People

Get Active

The Get Active Sport NI

Sport Northern Ireland encourages everyone to Get Active through participation in sport and physical recreation – don’t let your gender, geography, ability, or age stop you from enjoying all that sport has to offer.

RSV 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:

Rsv Vaccine