Flu vaccination
service

Flu is often self limiting with most people recovering in 2-7 days. However, flu can be severe and can cause serious illness and death, especially in the very young and in the elderly. Serious respiratory complications can develop, including pneumonia and bronchitis, to which older people and those with certain chronic medical conditions are particularly susceptible. Pregnant women have also been found to be at increased risk of the complications of flu. Some people may need hospital treatment and a number of mainly older people die from influenza each winter.

Only those who are in the HSE's target eligible groups for influenza vaccine should receive influenza vaccine supplied by the HSE's national cold chain service. See the HSE link for further guidance

Every year an expert group of virology scientists from the World Health Organisation (WHO) try to predict what viruses are likely to be prevalent for the following winter. Once agreed pharmaceutical companies set about making a vaccine (usually in injection and nasal spray format) over a course of 6 months just in time before Flu Season hits.

The Flu Vaccine is not mandatory but is advised by all healthcare professionals and the Government to reduce the levels of Flu in circulation.

Whilst you can get mild symptoms of temperature and rheumatic symptoms for up to 48 hours it is extremely rare that you will suffer symptoms other than this. On rare occasions you can get an anaphylactic attack (caused by an allergic reaction to the vaccine). On these rare circumstances, we as pharmacists are experienced and well trained in the first aid of dealing with such a scenario should it arrise.

Unfortunately, this is one of the myths associated with flu vaccination and is completely untrue. If anything the vaccine should strengthen your immune system particularly when it comes to fighting of the flu.

The Flu Vaccine is usually delivered to pharmacies around the middle of September each year.

The Quatrivalent inactivated Influenza injection is given usually into the shoulder in Pregnancy to protect both the mother and the baby against the Flu

Yes, the Flu Vaccine is safe to receive during pregnancy at any trimester and is recommended by all healthcare professionals in Ireland.

The Flu Vaccine is recommended in pregnancy as the risk of catching the flu during pregnancy, for both mother and child, may cause health issues that may the pregnancy and the health of the mother.

This current approach is based on the fact that viruses are extremely smart and morph into better and different strains over time. Also our own antibodies to fight the flu virus tend to wean over time.

Usually, any child aged 2-18 years is given the Nasal Spray unless there is a medical reason they cannot. The HSE have decided to cover those aged 2-12 years for a free Flu Vaccine for the forthcoming flu year.

The regular Flu Vaccine injection for 2023 contains 4 different virus strains which include:

• an A/Victoria/2570/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
• an A/Darwin/9/2021 (H3N2)-like virus;
• a B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus; and.
• a B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage)-like virus.

This is the same vaccine for all adults this year including over 65 years.

The most common side effects will be mild and will include soreness, redness or swelling where the injection was given. Headache, fever, aches and tiredness may occur. Some people may experience mild sweating and shivering as their immune system responds to the vaccine but this is not flu and will pass in a day or so.

The vaccine starts to work within two weeks.

The vaccine should not be given to those with a history of severe allergic (anaphylaxis) reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine or any of its constituents.

There are very few reasons why vaccination should be postponed. Vaccination should be re-scheduled if you have an acute illness or have any Covid-like symptoms with/without a temperature greater than 38°C. Also those who have recently undergone a bone marrow transplant should wait for at least 6 months to give their immune system time to repair before receiving a flu vaccine.

Yes, as long as private flu vaccination stocks are available to the pharmacy you can get the flu vaccine for a fee of €27.50