FLU VACCINATION – FOR PATIENTS WHO MEET THE FOLLOWING HSE CRITERIA
This year, the HSE will provide flu vaccines for patients in the following categories:
- Patients aged 60 years of age and over;
- Patients who are pregnant;
- Patients who are healthcare workers
- Patients aged between 6 months and 23 months and those aged between 18 and 59 years of age who are at increased risk of flu-related complications due to these specific health conditions:
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- 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
- morbid obesity – a body mass index (BMI) over 40
- immunosuppression due to disease or treatment (including asplenia or hyposplenism, and all cancer patients)
- 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
- Patients who are household contacts of people with underlying chronic health conditions or Down Syndrome
- Patients who are out of home care givers (carers) for people who have an underlying chronic health conditions or Down Syndrome
- Patients in regular contact with pigs, poultry or waterfowl.
All children aged 2 to 17 years are eligible to receive a free flu vaccine. School aged children can receive their vaccine in school and parents should make enquiries with your child’s school about availability.
Please note: household contacts of patients aged 65 years and older who do not also have a chronic health condition, household contacts of pregnant women, household contacts of children aged 2 to 17 years, household contacts of healthcare workers and household contacts of carers are not eligible for a flu vaccine from this campaign.
Please read full details provided here before attending for vaccine.
Patients in the HSE specified groups above will receive the vaccine free of charge. You will be asked to provide your PPS number to ensure your vaccine is covered by the HSE.
You can see more details about the flu vaccine from the HSE website by clicking here. Online Booking links are at the bottom of this page or call after 10.30am if unable to book online.
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 at this time, we are not aware of 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.
We will have the Influvac Tetra (QIV) vaccine from the HSE and you can read full details of the vaccine by clicking here before booking your appointment. The vaccine will be administered free of charge to eligible patients, regardless of whether you hold a Medical Card, Doctor Visit Card or are a private patient. You will be asked to provide your PPS to ensure the vaccine is covered by the HSE.
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.
People who are living in a nursing home or other long-term care facility will be vaccinated in the facility.
You should not get the flu vaccine if you have had a severe allergic (anaphylaxis) reaction to a previous dose or any part of the vaccine. Don’t get the flu vaccine if you are taking medicines called combination checkpoint inhibitors (e.g. ipilimumab plus nivolumab). Vaccination should be re-scheduled if you have an acute illness with a temperature greater than 38°C.
If you fall in to one or more of the categories listed above, you are eligible for the flu vaccination and you can make an appointment by contacting Reception or booking online using the links below. Appointments are subject to vaccine availability and clinical capacity and if we do not have an appointment available for you in a given week, you can check this page again in a few days or ask for your name to be added to the Waiting List for the next clinic.
Other useful information is available by clicking these links:
We understand that there may be patients who have received a flu vaccine in previous years and who do not fall into the categories set out by the HSE for this year’s flu programme. Unfortunately, we have no control over the categories who are eligible for the flu vaccination; as previously stated, these have been decided by the HSE at national level. Please do not book an appointment for a flu vaccination if you are not eligible as per the detailed lists above, as you cannot be given a vaccine.
At this time, the only source of flu vaccines is the HSE, and these vaccines must be given in line with the national criteria. If private supply becomes available for patients who do not meet the eligibility criteria above, we will update the website to let you know.
