The free flu vaccine is being rolled out in over 1,000 pharmacies across the country - as experts fear a "harsher" winter ahead of us.
The news comes just hours after the warning from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation that there are now 669 people waiting on a bed in Irish hospitals as of Tuesday morning.
Pharmacists are advising that this year’s flu season is likely to be harsher and advise early vaccination.
Read More: Record number of people on trolleys in hospital as Irish nurses call for Government to act
Vaccination is free of charge to all those in at-risk groups, medical card holders and children aged between 2-17.
Earlier today, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly was joined by Chief Medical Office Professor Breda Smyth and Chief Nursing Officer Rachel Kenna at Boots Pharmacy, Baggot Street in Dublin as they received their winter flu vaccine.
Speaking at the occasion Sharon Foley, Secretary General of the Irish Pharmacy Union urged people to book in for vaccinations without delay.
She said: "Influenza (the flu) is a highly infectious and potentially serious disease. While we have heard less about flu in recent years it seems likely that there will be a resurgent flu season due to reduced public health measures currently in place.
"The annual seasonal flu vaccine has been shown to be the best protection against flu. The most effective time to get the flu vaccine is before flu begins spreading in your community. After vaccination, it takes about two weeks for the antibodies to develop and for your protection to be maximised. Therefore, early vaccination is highly recommended, particularly for those in at-risk groups.
"Pharmacists have been administering flu vaccines since 2011. Pharmacies have administered over 1.2 million vaccines under the COVID-19 and Flu programmes and pharmacists are available to offer advice or to answer queries you may have."
Free Flu Vaccines are available to any person in the following groups:
- aged 65 years and older
- aged 2 to 17 years
- a healthcare worker
- pregnant
- living in a nursing home or other long-term care facility
- in regular contact with pigs, poultry, or waterfowl
- someone with a health condition that puts you at higher risk of flu
- living with someone who has a health condition that puts them at higher risk of flu
- a carer for someone who has a health condition that puts them at higher risk of flu
Ms Foley concluded by urging parents to visit their local pharmacy to have their children vaccinated against the flu.
She added: "Children aged 2- 17 years are entitled to a free flu vaccine that will be administered via a nasal spray. It is simple, painless, has very few side effects and could prevent your child from becoming quite unwell and potentially spreading flu to others within your family."
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