HSE’s Winter Vaccination Programme starts

Published:

Older people and at-risk groups urged to protect themselves against both flu and COVID-19 by getting their vaccines

The HSE’s winter vaccination programme got underway yesterday (Monday, october 3rd) with the roll out of the free flu vaccine to recommended groups, while those aged over 65 and all aged 12 and over with a weak immune system are invited for their next COVID-19 vaccine.

The rollout of the adapted bivalent vaccines has also started. Three adapted bivalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have been recommended for use for booster vaccination by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC), following approval by the European Medicines Agency.

COVID-19 primary and booster vaccines for people aged 12 or over are also available in the 15 vaccination centres across the country.

The HSE is also reminding anyone who has not received their primary vaccine or their booster doses, or who has had COVID-19 and has had to wait 4 months for their booster to book an appointment as soon as possible.

From October 17th the children’s flu nasal spray vaccine will also be available free for all children aged 2 to 17 years from GPs and Pharmacies. For children aged 5 to 11 who have not had their primary COVID-19 vaccination, and for those with a weak immune system and due a booster dose, appointments are available at HSE vaccination centres by making an appointment on www.hse.ie

The HSE will continue to be active over the next few weeks in our services, in the media and online, encouraging people to come forward for both flu and COVID-19 vaccines. A multi-media advertising campaign encouraging all eligible groups to come forward for their recommended vaccines will be rolled out from this week on radio, press, TV, digital and social media.

To see what vaccines are recommended for you, visit www.hse.ie/covid19vaccine and hse.ie/flu, call HSELive on 1800 700 700 or talk to a participating GP or Pharmacy.

Who should get the free flu vaccine?

This year the free flu vaccine is recommended for you if you are in one of these groups:

  • Aged 65 or over
  • A healthcare worker
  • Children aged 2 – 17
  • At any stage of pregnancy
  • People with certain long term medical conditions that put them at increased risk from the complications of flu

For a full list of recommended groups visit hse.ie/flu

Who should get Covid19 primary and booster vaccines?

Please see the recommended Covid-19 vaccine journey for all groups
https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/covid19vaccineinfo4hps/vaccinejourney.html

Additional Flu Vaccine Information:

This year, there are 2 different types of flu vaccine being offered to different groups:

  1. Quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) for at-risk groups including people who are 65 and over; are pregnant; are aged 18 to 64 and have a long term medical condition; or are a healthcare worker.
  2. Nasal spray flu vaccine for children aged 2 to 17 years.

There are 2 brands of QIV vaccine available this year:

  1. Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine (split virion, inactivated) manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur
  2. Influvac Tetra manufactured by Mylan