Winter Vaccination Rollout Begins

Winter is coming…

atest press release from HSE, issued on Monday, October 2nd 2023…

The HSE’s Autumn Winter vaccination programme gets underway today, Monday, 2nd October with the roll out of the free flu and COVID-19 vaccines to recommended groups.

The COVID-19 Autumn Winter booster vaccine is recommended for people aged 50 and over. The flu vaccine is recommended for people aged 65 and over. Both vaccines are recommended for health and care workers, anyone who is pregnant or has a long term health condition.

Both vaccines will be available from participating GPs and pharmacists and can be given at the same time. Health and care worker vaccination clinics will also take place in many workplaces across the country.

HSE vaccination teams will also provide both vaccines for people living in residential care facilities including nursing homes as well as to housebound patients.

Who can be vaccinated now?

You will be offered a booster dose from 2nd October if you are:

⦿ age 50 or older

⦿ age 5 or older with a weak immune system

⦿ age 5 to 49 with a condition that puts you at high risk of serious illness from COVID-19

⦿ a healthcare worker

If you’re aged 18 to 49 and not in one of the groups above, you can still request a vaccine. Talk to your GP or pharmacist about your reasons for wanting a booster.

Flu Vaccine

You can get the flu vaccine for free if you are:

⦿ age 65 and older

⦿ age 2 to 12

⦿ 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 (age 6 months and older).

Key Findings of COVID-19 Vaccination Programme Impact Study in Ireland

The COVID-19 vaccination programme prevented COVID-19 related illness and death in the population and therefore protected population health and the healthcare system.

In Ireland between December 2021 and March 2023 it is estimated the programme prevented:

⦿ 16,000 deaths- 87% of deaths expected in the absence of vaccination

⦿ 3,300 ICU admissions- 89% of ICU admissions expected in the absence of vaccination

⦿ Over 102,000 hospitalisations- 81% of hospitalisations expected in the absence of vaccination

Dr Lucy Jessop

Dr Lucy Jessop, HSE National Immunisation Lead, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, said: “This winter both the Flu and COVID-19 viruses are expected to circulate. It is very important that all those who are invited, get both their free flu and COVID-19 booster vaccines. Flu and COVID-19 are caused by different viruses but both can cause serious illness. People should also be reassured that it is safe to receive both vaccines at the same time.”

The significance of the vaccination programme in saving people from serious illness and death from COVID-19 is highlighted by recent research undertaken by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on the impact of the COVID-19 vaccine programme in Ireland on reducing deaths and hospitalisations.

Between December 2021 and March 2023, the study estimates that the vaccination programme prevented 87% of deaths, 81% of hospitalisations and 89% of ICU admissions that would have been expected to occur in the absence of vaccination.

Commenting on the research, Dr Colm Henry, HSE Chief Clinical Officer, said: “This research clearly shows that in the 15 months to March 2023, COVID-19 vaccines averted symptomatic and severe COVID-19 cases, preventing 16,000 deaths and over 100,000 hospitalisations. It emphasises the importance of maintaining high population vaccination coverage, providing additional booster doses and protecting those most at risk. The study also highlights the significance of the vaccination programme in protecting our hospital capacity and averting hospitalisations and ICU admissions.”

Comirnaty Omicron XBB.1.5 vaccine, a new monovalent vaccine recently approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has been recommended by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) in Ireland as the Autumn Winter COVID-19 booster. This new vaccine generates a substantially improved antibody response against certain COVID variants and offers greater protection.

The pneumococcal vaccine (PPV23) which protects against pneumonia, septicaemia and meningitis is also available free of charge from participating GPs for people aged 65 and older. The vaccine can be taken at the same time as the flu and COVID-19 vaccines.

The children’s flu vaccine (a nasal spray) will also launch on 9th October and will be available from participating GPs and Pharmacists for children aged 2-12 years. An extension of this year’s programme will see the vaccine offered to children in Senior Infants and all children in Primary Age Special Schools this year.

To see what vaccines are recommended for you, visit www.hse.ie, call HSELive on 1800700700 or talk to a participating GP or pharmacist.