What flu vaccines are available this flu season?

• the Fluenz nasal spray suspension influenza vaccine (live attenuated, nasal) manufactured by AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals (Ireland) DAC for children aged 2 to 17 years                                                                                                                                                                                                          
• the Trivalent Injectable Inactivated influenza vaccine, available for all other eligible populations.

The following people over 18 years can get a free flu vaccine:

• All people aged 60 and over
• Pregnant women
• Residents of nursing homes and other long stay institutions
• Healthcare workers
• People with regular close contact with poultry, water fowl or pigs
• People with a health condition that puts them at higher risk of flu
• People living with someone with a health condition that puts them at higher risk of flu
• Carer for someone with a health condition that puts them at higher risk of flu

Health conditions that put you at a higher risk of flu:

• Chronic heart disease
• Chronic liver or kidney disease
• Chronic respiratory disease (COPD, cystic fibrosis, moderate to severe asthma, bronchopulmonary dysplasia)
• Chronic neurological disease including multiple sclerosis and degenerative disorders of the central nervous system.
• Diabetes
• Down syndrome
• Haemoglobinopathies
• Metabolic disorders
• Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment (including asplenia or hyposplenism, and cancer)
• Cancer
• Body mass index (BMI) over 40
• Serious mental health condition
• 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

Free flu vaccines will be offered to carers or household contacts of people who have have a health condition listed above. 

A carer is someone who provides an ongoing, significant level of care to someone who is in need of care in the home due to illness, disability or frailty.

Eligibility criteria are listed on the HSE website

What is seasonal flu (influenza)?

Seasonal flu is a highly infectious viral illness of the respiratory tract that can be life threatening. Flu is a serious illness with most deaths occurring in people aged 65 years and over, those with long term medical conditions and pregnant women.

How does the seasonal flu vaccine work?

Seasonal flu vaccine helps the person’s immune system to produce antibodies to the flu virus.

How safe is flu vaccine?

Seasonal flu vaccines have been given for more than 60 years to millions of people worldwide. Reactions are generally mild and serious side effects are very rare.

Side Effects

After the vaccine, you may have some mild side effects. These may include: - soreness, redness or swelling where you got the injection - fever (high temperature - 38 degrees Celsius or above) - mild sweating and shivering - headache - aches - feeling tired

For more information, visit the HSE Flu Website. For HCP, there is further information here.

Where do I get the flu vaccine if I am in one of the groups for whom the vaccine is recommended?