The Flu Vaccine Clinics
Flu Clinics for our Patients Aged 65 years and older & Patients aged 2-64 in the HSE Advised "At Risk Groups"
Our Flu Vaccine Clinics run 2 afternoons a week from the 3rd of October 2023
Clinics will be run an a weekly basis in the afternoons, but are strictly for those patients aged over 65 or categorised in the "At Risk Groups",.
Please only phone us to book an appointment if you meet the HSE Criteria -
To book call 01 8495500 - please do not call between 08.30 and 10.00am
(see bleow link with Criteria listings, or scroll down to see a full list).
Alternatively if you are not in an "AT Risk Group" the local pharmacies may be running Vaccine Clinics
For Additional Information
www2.hse.ie/conditions/flu/get-vaccine/
Information Leaflet for at-risk groups
www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/pubinfo/flu-vaccination/information/flu2022genleaflet.pdf
Information Leaflet for Children's Flu Vaccine
www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/pubinfo/flu-vaccination/information/flu2022childleaflet.pdf
Information Leaflet for Pregnant Patients
www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/pubinfo/flu-vaccination/information/flu2022pregleaflet.pdf
Information for Healthcare Workers
www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/pubinfo/flu-vaccination/information/flu2022hcwleaflet.pdf
Children's flu vaccine
This flu season, all children age 2 to 12 will be offered the nasal flu vaccine for free.
Young people age 13 to 17 can also get the free nasal flu vaccine if they have:
- a long-term medical conditions such as diabetes, chronic conditions of the heart, liver or kidney, and chronic lung disease including COPD, or neurological diseases
- cancer
- an impaired immune system due to disease or treatment
- a body mass index (BMI) of over 40
- Down syndrome
- regular contact with poultry, water fowl or pigs
They can also get the free nasal flu vaccine if they:
- are carers
- live in the same house as someone who is at risk of flu because of a medical condition
- live in a long-term residential care facility
Speak to your GP or pharmacist about whether your child age 13 to 17 should get the flu vaccine. Influenza (flu) is a very infectious illness caused by the flu virus. Flu spreads easily and infects both children and adults.
Free Flu vaccine
People with these conditions can get a free flu vaccine:
- chronic heart disease, including acute coronary syndrome
- chronic liver disease
- chronic kidney failure
- chronic respiratory disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, moderate or severe asthma, or bronchopulmonary dysplasia
- chronic neurological disease including multiple sclerosis, hereditary and degenerative disorders of the central nervous system
- diabetes
- Down syndrome
- haemoglobinopathies
- a body mass index (BMI) over 40
- immunosuppression due to disease or treatment (including asplenia or hyposplenism, and cancer)
- children with a moderate to severe neurodevelopmental disorder such as cerebral palsy
- children on long-term aspirin therapy
- any condition that can compromise respiratory function, like spinal cord injury, seizure disorder or other neuromuscular disorder, especially people also attending special schools or day centres
Who is a carer?
A carer is someone who provides an ongoing, significant level of care to someone who is in need of care in the home due to illness, disability or frailty.
Free flu vaccines will not be offered to people who live with:
- people age 65 and older, who do not also have a chronic health condition
- pregnant women
- children age 2 to 12
- healthcare workers
- carers
If you cannot get a free flu vaccine
If you cannot get a free flu vaccine, you can still get one at a pharmacy or GP surgery. But you will need to pay for it.
When the flu vaccine starts to work
It takes 2 weeks for the vaccine to work. It should protect you for the whole flu season.
Side effects
After the vaccine, you may have some mild side effects.
These may include:
- soreness, redness or swelling where you got the injection
- fever (high temperature - 38 degrees Celsius or above)
- mild sweating and shivering
- headaches
- aches
- feeling tired
If you have any of these side effects, rest and take paracetamol.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects such as a severe allergic reaction are rare.
In very rare cases Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) has been reported. GBS is a condition that affects the nerves in the body. It causes nerve inflammation and can cause pain, numbness, muscle weakness and difficulty walking. You are far more likely to get Guillain-Barré syndrome from having the flu than from the flu vaccine.
Report harmful side effects to the Health Products Regulatory Authority - hpra.ie
Flu vaccine and COVID-19 booster
The flu vaccine and the COVID-19 booster are 2 separate vaccines.
You can get can both at the same time if you are due a COVID-19 booster dose.