26th November 2025
This winter Belfast Trust is reminding you that it is everyone’s responsibility to fight the flu and to protect yourselves, our patients and our service users.
More than 4,000 healthcare workers in Belfast Trust have received their flu vaccination as part of the Trust’s winter flu campaign.
The winter flu vaccination campaign started in October and to date one in five staff have been protected, with more than 1,300 receiving their vaccination within the first week. The programme runs until the end of March 2026.
Almost 300 trained Belfast Trust staff have signed up to be Peer Vaccinators in an effort to make a difference to their colleagues, who will play vital roles in caring for our patients and service users over the winter months and beyond.
Hanna Stockman, Sister at Belfast Trust Outpatient Support Hub, is one of those trained to vaccinate her colleagues.
She commented: “Getting the flu vaccination will protect them from getting ill over the winter months and it also protects your patients.
“Flu is a very dangerous virus and we know that. If we get the vaccine, we may still get the flu itself but the symptoms won’t be as bad and might not end up causing hospitalisation in ourselves or in others. And it also will help prevent the spread.”
The trained vaccination teams have been out and about across all Belfast Trust sites, with varied days and times to ensure easy access for everyone.
Staff have also been part of a video campaign encouraging colleagues to get their vaccination, to protect themselves and the people they care for.
Sister Stockman said the peer vaccination teams make it easy for staff to get their winter protection.
She added: “I totally get it, you don’t have a minute in the day, your breaks are precious time and the last thing you want to do is traipse to another hospital site or another department. But that’s why this year the vaccine’s going to be available right on your doorstep.
“Your colleagues are going to be giving you the flu vaccination. The opportunity will be there, so I would just say take it, it doesn’t take much.”
Vaccinations are the best protection to stay strong this winter. Belfast Trust staff are working hard to protect you, you can help us by protecting yourself and those around you by getting vaccinated this winter.