The HSE has announced walk-in flu vaccination clinics are now open for children ages 2 to 17.
Irish health officials are urging parents to bring their kids forward for a vaccine against the flu as cases continue to rise and pressure mounts on the health system.
The latest move by the HSE to organise this vaccine service for younger generations is in response to rising numbers of both flu cases among children and the large number of children who have been hospitalised with flu this winter.
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There will be a number of community vaccination centres across the country offering walk-in flu vaccination clinics for all children aged 2-17.
Parents are advised that no appointment is necessary and that the vaccine is free of charge.
It is also available from participating GPs and pharmacists and parents can find details on pharmacies offering vaccinations in their area using the pharmacy finder tool.
The children’s free nasal flu vaccine will be available up until January 23. After this date, only children with medical conditions which put them at risk of serious illness from flu will be able to get a vaccine.
A statement released today read: “The HSE is encouraging parents to avail of this opportunity to vaccinate their children against flu as flu continues to spread and is likely to continue circulating further for a number of weeks”.
Dr Aparna Keegan, a specialist in Public Health Medicine and Flu Lead, at HSE National Immunisation Office said: “Flu is a serious illness that can be dangerous in children too. We are seeing rising flu cases in the community, so we are encouraging parents of children aged 2-17 to get 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 the flu virus, these antibodies will help them fight the flu and reduce the risk of getting sick or needing to go to the 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.”
While most children who catch flu have mild symptoms, the flu can sometimes lead to serious complications such as pneumonia or bronchitis in some children.
Children, especially young children, are also more likely than adults to get severe complications of flu.
The HSE confirmed that to date nearly 700 children under the age of 14 have been hospitalised with flu this winter.
Symptoms to look out for include but are not limited to:
- a high temperature - over 38 degrees Celsius
- aches and pains
- tiredness
- sore throat
- headaches
The full schedule of clinics is available on www.hse.ie.
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