Laois hospital staff say yes to flu vaccine in Portlaoise and they hope you will too

Staff at Portlaoise hospital are getting behind the new flu vaccination campaign as part of doing their bit to stop the spread in health care settings in Laois and around Ireland.

Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise launched their flu vaccine campaign for healthcare workers to prevent the spread. Apart from getting protected themselves, hospital staff are urging everyone eligible in the wider community to avail of both free winter vaccines, as they are the best protection against flu and COVID-19 this year.

Ms. Sandra McCarthy is the Laois hospital's Director of Nursing.

“Now more than ever we need to protect our staff and our patients. Healthcare workers are up to 10 times more likely to get the flu. Getting the flu vaccine is the best way to help protect staff and patients in healthcare settings from getting the flu. As healthcare workers, flu vaccination is important to protect ourselves and to prevent the spread of the flu to colleagues, families and patients.

"The flu vaccine does not protect against COVID-19 because they are caused by different viruses. If you are eligible and haven’t received your next COVID-19 booster, we would encourage you to do so. Every individual who gets the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine this year is supporting our frontline services to continue to provide healthcare to vulnerable and sick patients,” she said. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Pictured: Flu Vaccinator Monica Brannigan vaccinates Dr Karn Cliffe, Interim Chief Director of Nursing and Midwifery Dublin Midlands Hospital Group, at Portlaoise hospital.

Dr. Karn Cliffe is the Interim Chief Director of Nursing & Midwifery at the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group of which Portlaoise is party.

“Flu is a serious illness. In a typical flu season, up to 500 people die from flu in Ireland. The circulating influenza viruses change each year, so each year the composition of the flu vaccine changes to protect against the new strains of flu virus expected. This is why we encourage our staff to have the flu vaccine every year. Getting the flu vaccine is a simple way for us to help control the spread of flu in healthcare settings and in the community,” she said.

The HSE’s winter vaccination programme gets underway with the rollout of the free flu vaccine to recommended groups while those aged over 65 and all aged 12 and over with a weak immune system are invited for their next COVID-19 vaccine.

The adapted bivalent vaccines for Covid-19 are also been rolled out as the recommended for use for booster vaccination by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC), following approval by the European Medicines Agency. This vaccine has been adjusted to protect against virus variants.

COVID-19 primary and booster vaccines for people aged 12 or over are also available in the 15 vaccination centres across the country.

The HSE is also reminding anyone who has not received their primary vaccine or their booster doses, or who has had COVID-19 and has had to wait 4 months for their booster to book an appointment as soon as possible.

From October 17th the children’s flu nasal spray vaccine will also be available free for all children aged 2 to 17 years from GPs and Pharmacies. For children aged 5 to 11 who have not had their primary COVID-19 vaccination and for those with a weak immune system and due a booster dose, appointments are available at HSE vaccination centres by making an appointment on www.hse.ie

The HSE says it will continue to be active over the next few weeks in our services, in the media and online, encouraging people to come forward for both flu and COVID-19 vaccines. A multi-media advertising campaign encouraging all eligible groups to come forward for their recommended vaccines will be rolled out from this week on radio, press, TV, digital and social media.

To see what vaccines are recommended for you, visit www.hse.ie/ covid19vaccine  and hse.ie/flu, call HSELive on 1800 700 700 or talk to a participating GP or Pharmacy. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Pictured: Kathleen Ward, Operations Manager MRHP, Michael Knowles – General Manager MRHP, Dr. Karn Cliffe - Interim Chief Director of Nursing and Midwifery Dublin Midlands Hospital Group, Dr John Connaughton, Clinical Director MRHP, Ms Sandra Mc Carthy, Director of Nursing MRHP.

MORE ON THE FLU VACCINE FROM THE HSE

Who should get the free flu vaccine?

This year the free flu vaccine is recommended for you if you are in one of these groups:

Aged 65 or over

A healthcare worker

Children aged 2 – 17

At any stage of pregnancy

People with certain long term medical conditions that put them at increased risk from the complications of flu

For a full list of recommended groups visit hse.ie/flu

Who should get Covid19 primary and booster vaccines

Please see the recommended Covid-19 vaccine journey for all groups

https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/ immunisation/hcpinfo/ covid19vaccineinfo4hps/ vaccinejourney.html

Additional Flu Vaccine Information:

This year, there are 2 different types of flu vaccine being offered to different groups:

Quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) for at-risk groups including people who are 65 and over; are pregnant; are aged 18 to 64 and have a long term medical condition; or are a healthcare worker.

Nasal spray flu vaccine for children aged 2 to 17 years.

There are 2 brands of QIV vaccine available this year:

Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine (split virion, inactivated) manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur

Influvac Tetra manufactured by Mylan

Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD also backs vaccination.

"As the weather becomes cooler and the nights become darker, all of our thoughts turn to how best we can protect ourselves and our loved ones from the worst impacts of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses that circulate at this time of year. I welcome the roll-out of the HSEs winter vaccination programme that will facilitate booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine and seasonal flu vaccines being administered at the same time in GPs and Pharmacies.

“15 Vaccination Centres across the country are also continuing to provide COVID-19 primary vaccines and 2nd and 3rd booster doses this winter. We know that vaccines offer good protection from both COVID-19 and seasonal flu and urge everyone eligible to avail of this opportunity as soon as possible,” he said.

Dr Aparna Keegan, Specialist in Public Health Medicine, HSE National Immunisation Office, urged people to get protected.

“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 vaccine and COVID-19 booster vaccines. Flu and COVID-19 are caused by different viruses but both can cause serious illness. The flu vaccine does not protect against COVID-19.

“That is why it is important that if you have had a COVID-19 vaccine you should still get your free flu vaccine. Both Flu and COVID-19 vaccines will be available from participating GPs and Pharmacies and can be given at the same time.”