Flu vaccine walk-in clinics are to open across Ireland for children aged between two and 17-years-old.
The walk-in clinics, which require no appointment, will offer the nasal flu vaccine for children. The HSE has announced the clinics due to the ongoing crisis where the number of children hospitalised with the flu continues to rise.
The vaccine will be available to children free of charge and it is also available from participating GPs and pharmacies. Parents can find details on pharmacies offering vaccinations in their area using the pharmacy finder tool.
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Dr Aparna Keegan from the HSE National Immunisation Office said: “Flu is a serious illness that can be dangerous in children too. We are seeing rising cases of flu in the community so we are encouraging parents of children aged 12-17 to get their children vaccinated to protect them while there is still time.
“The nasal spray flu vaccine is a very safe and effective vaccine and helps your child’s immune system produce antibodies that fight infection. It cannot give your child the flu. If your child has had the flu vaccine and they come into contact with flu virus, these antibodies will help them fight the flu and reduce the risk of getting sick or needing to go to hospital.
“The vaccination process is a simple nasal spray and is given by spraying the vaccine once into each of the child’s nostrils. Getting the nasal spray flu vaccine is a safe, effective and a pain free way to protect your child from flu this winter.”
To date nearly 700 children under the age of 14 have been hospitalised with flu this winter. In Ireland, between 2009 and 2019, the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre reported:
- 4,750 children needed hospital treatment because of complications of flu
- 183 of these were admitted to intensive care
- 41 children died
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