The Department of Health today published a report on antibody data from the COVID-19 Infection Survey (CIS). The findings set out in this report relate to estimates for NI for the week beginning 28 November 2022.
This report is part of the series of Northern Ireland publications from the COVID-19 Infection Survey. Further information can be found on the Department of Health website.
Key Findings
In this bulletin, we report percentages of the population that are estimated to have antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the specific virus that causes coronavirus (COVID-19).
- In Northern Ireland, in the week beginning 28 November 2022, the percentage of people aged 16 and over estimated to have antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 at or above 800 ng/ml was 78.3% (95% credible interval: 74.6% to 81.6%), an increase from 75.3% in our previous bulletin (published on 1 December 2022 for week beginning 17 October 2022).
- In Northern Ireland, in the week beginning 28 November 2022, the percentage of the adult population estimated to have antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 at or above the level of 179 ng/ml remained high across all age groups.
- Across the UK, the percentage of people estimated to have antibodies at or above the 800 ng/ml level increased among those aged 50 and over recent weeks, likely as a result of the vaccination booster campaign.
Estimates of antibody positivity at 2000 ng/ml, 4000 ng/ml and 6000 ng/ml are also presented in the bulletin. These levels have been introduced to enable enhanced monitoring of antibody levels and waning.
Notes to editors:
- The Department of Health has been working along with the Public Health Agency, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency and the Office for National Statistics (and its various survey partners) to extend the COVID-19 Infection Survey to Northern Ireland. Fieldwork in Northern Ireland began on 27 July 2020.
- All results are provisional and subject to revision. Due to the relatively small number of people who tested positive for antibodies within our sample, credible intervals are wide and therefore results should be interpreted with caution.
- These statistics refer to the presence of antibodies to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) within the community population, by which we mean private residential households. These figures exclude those in hospitals, care homes and/or other institutional settings.
- This report is part of the series of Northern Ireland publications from the COVID-19 Infection Survey. Positivity estimates are published on a weekly basis and antibody data fortnightly. Further information can be found on the Department of Health website.
- Further information about quality and methodology associated with the survey can be found on the ONS website.
- This publication is available online at:
- Additional information is available from:
Information Analysis Directorate
Department of Health
Annex 2, Castle Buildings
Stormont
Belfast BT4 3SQ
Telephone: 028 9052 2340 E-mail: statistics@health-ni.gov.uk