Flu Vaccine
The Flu is a highly infectious virus that can cause infection. For most people it leads to mild symptoms of cough, muscle aches and fevers but for other it can cause more severe symptoms.
You are eligible to receive the flu vaccine for free to the HSE programme if you are within the at risk group.
This includes people who are:
- aged 60 years of age and over
- A child aged 2 to 17 years
- If you are pregnant
- all those aged 6-23 months and 18-59 years at increased risk of influenza- related complications such as; suffering with a chronic illness for example chronic heart disease, chronic liver liver disease, chronic neurological disease, chronic renal failure, chronic respiratory disease, moderate or severe asthma or diabetes.
- Those with immune suppression due to disease or treatment, and all cancer patients.
- Those with any condition that can compromise respiratory function (e.g., spinal cord injury, seizure disorder or muscular disorder especially those attending special schools/ day centres.
- Children and adults with Down syndrome.
- Children with moderate to severe neurodevelopmental disorders such as cerebral palsy and intellectual disability.
- Children on long term aspirin therapy.
- Residents of nursing homes, old people’s homes, and long stay facilities where rapid spread is likely to follow introduction of infection.
- Healthcare workers.
- Household contacts of people with underlying chronic health conditions or Down syndrome.
- Out of home caregivers for people who have an underlying chronic health condition or have Down syndrome.
- People in regular contact with pigs, poultry or waterfoul.
Click here for information on the children’s flu vaccine
