Flu Vaccination Programme 2021-2022: Update and Online Booking for Eligible Patients
We can now offer online booking for flu appointments for eligible patients to receive the flu vaccine at Sirona Medical. Vaccination appointments are for registered, adult patients of the practice who are eligible for free flu vaccine as per the HSE criteria. Children’s flu vaccine information is available by clicking here.
This year, the HSE will provide flu vaccines for adult patients as follows:
- All patients aged 65 and over.
- Patients aged between 6 months and 23 months and those aged between 18 and 64 years of age who are at increased risk of influenza-related complications (See Specified List below) including pregnant women.
Patients in the HSE specified groups above will receive the vaccine free of charge.
Please read the information below carefully to determine if you are eligible to receive the flu vaccine this year. It is important not to book an appointment for a flu vaccine if you do not meet the criteria below as you cannot be given a vaccine for which you are not eligible.
Please note that as per HSE and national guidelines, ONLY patients in the HSE specified groups will be able to avail of the flu vaccine in this practice. We will not be receiving flu vaccines for any other patients from the HSE and to date, there is no private supply in Ireland available for other patients. We understand this may be frustrating for other patients and suggest you contact the HSE or your local political representative to raise this matter with them.
PATIENTS AGED 65 YEARS AND OVER
All patients aged 65 and over are eligible to receive the flu vaccine free of charge. Patients will receive the QUADRIVALENT (QIV) vaccine and you can read the detailed patient information about this vaccine by clicking here.
Appointments are subject to vaccine availability and clinical capacity and if we do not have an appointment available for you online, you can call Reception to be added to the Waiting List and we will contact you when an appointment becomes available.
FLU VACCINATION FOR PATIENTS AGED BETWEEN 18 AND 64 YEARS AND CHILDREN AGED FROM 6 TO 23 MONTHS WHO MEET THE FOLLOWING HSE CRITERIA
Patients who are aged between 18 and 64 years and 6 months to 23 months and who are considered to be at increased risk of influenza-related complications will receive the QUADRIVALENT (QIV) vaccine and you can read the detailed patient information about this vaccine by clicking here. The vaccine will be administered free of charge to patients in this age group, regardless of whether you hold a Medical Card, Doctor Visit Card or are a private patient.
Children between 6 months and 23 months in this category will usually be vaccinated in the hospital / through their Outpatient specialist clinic. If your child is in this category, please contact the hospital clinic first to check if your child will be vaccinated there.
Please check the list below and if you fall into one of the categories:
Appointments are subject to vaccine availability and clinical capacity and if we do not have an appointment available for you online, you can call Reception to be added to the Waiting List and we will contact you when an appointment becomes available.
Patients must have a confirmed diagnosis or fall into a specific category listed below to be eligible to receive this vaccine. The categories are:
- Chronic Respiratory Disease (including COPD, cystic fibrosis, moderate or severe asthma and bronchopulmonary dysplasia).
- Pregnant woman – at any stage of pregnancy.
- Chronic Heart Disease.
- Chronic Renal Failure.
- Chronic Liver Disease.
- Chronic Neurological Disease.
- Immunosuppressed (due to disease or treatment including all patients with active cancer diagnosis).
- Household contacts or home carer to persons with increased medical risk*.
- Diabetes Mellitus.
- Morbidly Obese (BMI 40 or over).
- Haemoglobinopathies.
- Patients with conditions that compromise respiratory function (e.g., spinal cord injury, seizure disorder, other neuromuscular disorder), especially those attending day centres / special schools.
- Resident of a nursing home or other long stay facility (patients will be vaccinated in their care facility).
- Children and adults with Down Syndrome.
- Children with severe neurodevelopmental disorders such as cerebral palsy and intellectual disability.
- Children on long-term aspirin therapy.
- Carers (Out-of-home carers – those providing a significant level of care the home to a person with an underlying chronic health condition or Down Syndrome).
- People in regular contact with pigs, poultry, or waterfowl
- Healthcare workers
* Please note that only household contacts or carers of people who have an underlying chronic health condition or have Down syndrome are eligible to receive an influenza vaccine. A carer is described as someone who is providing an ongoing significant level of care to a person who is in need of care in the home due to illness or disability or frailty i.e., those in receipt of Carer’s Allowance. Household contacts of people aged 65 years and older, pregnant women, children aged 2-17 years or of healthcare workers (who do not also have a chronic health condition), are not eligible for the influenza vaccine.
