Flu Vaccine

The Flu Vaccine isavailable in our Pharmacies.

This service is available Free of Charge for:

• All those aged 6-23 months and 13-64 years in an at-risk group, regardless of their eligibility status, can receive the QIV vaccine and have it administered free of charge;

• All those aged 65 years and over, regardless of whether they are in an at-risk group and regardless of their eligibility status, can receive the aQIV vaccine and have it administered free of charge

• All healthy children aged 2-17 years, regardless of whether they are in an at-risk group and regardless of their eligibility status, can receive the LAIV vaccine, which is a nasal spray (or QIV if contraindicated) and have it administered free of charge. 

How to Register

You can register for your flu vaccine by clicking Register for your flu vaccine , and filling in the form. We will call you back with your vaccine appointment.

Register for Your Flu Vaccine

If you have difficulty in registering online, please contact one of our pharmacies. 

Pharmacy Phone Numbers:

• Daarwood (Newcastlewest): 069-78200
• Southside (Roxboro): 061-404729
• Ballycasey (Shannon): 061-363853

Flu is more severe in people aged 65 years and over, pregnant women, and anyone with a long-term medical condition. The HSE is urging people in at-risk groups to get the flu vaccine.

At Risk Groups

• People aged 65 years and over
  
• Child aged 2-17
• Pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy (QIV only)
  
• People  aged 6 months to 64 years (adults and children) with a chronic illness requiring regular follow up, e.g. chronic respiratory disease (including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, moderate or severe asthma and bronchopulmonary dysplasia), chronic heart disease (including acute coronary syndrome), chronic renal failure, diabetes mellitus, haemoglobinopathies, chronic liver disease, chronic neurological disease (including multiple sclerosis and hereditary and degenerative disorders of the central nervous system);
  
• People who are immunosuppressed due to disease or treatment including those with missing or non- functioning spleens;
• All cancer patients
  
• Patients with any condition that can compromise respiratory function, e.g. spinal cord injury, seizure or other neuromuscular disorder, especially those attending special schools or day centres;
• Persons who are obese who have a body mass index (BMI) of over 40
  
• People with Down syndrome
  
• Residents of nursing homes and other long-stay institutions
  
• Healthcare workers
  
• Carers and household contacts of people at medical risk of the complications of flu
  
• Out-of-home care givers to at-risk persons;
• People with regular close contact with poultry, water fowl or pigs

What is flu?

Seasonal flu (also known as influenza) is a highly infectious illness caused by the flu virus. The virus infects your lungs and upper airways, causing a sudden high temperature and general aches and pains, headache, weakness and exhaustion. Symptoms can last for up to one week. You may need to stay in bed until your symptoms get better. Flu affects people of all ages. In some people flu can cause serious complications such as pneumonia.

How serious is flu?

The Flu virus is an unpredictable virus. If you are healthy you will usually recover in 7 days. But Flu can be severe and can cause serious illness and death. Complications of flu include bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections and rarely acute encephalopathy (swelling of the brain). Serious complications of flu are more likely if you have a chronic medical condition or if you are aged 65 years or older. Pregnant women are also at increased risk of flu complications.

In Ireland, between 200 and 500 people, mainly older people, die from flu each winter. Every year, around the world, flu causes between 3 and 5 million cases of severe disease and up to 646, 000 deaths.

How is flu spread?

If you are carrying the virus, you can spread it by coughing or sneezing. This can happen from 1-2 days before symptoms develop and up to 5 days after symptoms develop.

Flu can survive on worktops and objects, especially in low temperatures and low humidity. You can get flu by touching a surface with the virus on it and then touching your mouth, eyes or nose. The virus can live on a hard surface for up to 24 hours and a soft surface for around 20 minutes.

What is the difference between a cold and the flu?

Flu symptoms come on suddenly with a fever, muscle aches, headache and fatigue. A cold usually starts gradually with a sore throat and a blocked or a runny nose. Symptoms of a cold are generally mild compared to flu.

Where can I get more information?

• HSE information on the Flu vaccine
• HSE Influenza FAQ 2021/2022
• About the Flu vaccine during pregnancy
• Flu vaccine for healthcare workers
  
• Flu vaccine for children 2 -17 (Nasal Spray)

Patient Information Leaflets

• QIV Vaccine PIL
• aQIV Vaccine PIL
• LAIV Vaccine (Nasal Spray) PIL

What to expect when getting vaccinated at Pharmacy Store

COVID-19 is still circulating in the community. So,  we will continue to use safety measures when you arrive at our pharmacies for your flu shot. This will enable us to keep up with the high demand and most importantly to keep you the patient and staff members safe from coronavirus while administering the flu shots.

Registration

You can register for your flu vaccine by clicking  Register for your flu vaccine. Fill out the form and we will call you back with your vaccine appointment. 

Register for Your Flu Vaccine

If you have difficulty in registering online, please contact one of our pharmacies. 

Pharmacy Phone Numbers:

• Daarwood (Newcastlewest): 069-78200
• Southside (Roxboro): 061-404729
• Ballycasey (Shannon): 061-363853

Consent Form

This section is very important to ensure that the patient is eligible to receive the vaccine in the pharmacy. All necessary personal information from you is entered while you are making the appointment to minimize the time they have to spend inside the pharmacy. You will have access to all the necessary information to make an informed decision on the vaccination procedure at the Booking stage. View a sample Patient Consent Form (255 KB PDF)

Vaccination Appointment

The consent form will be filled out and be available for you to review and ready to sign upon arrival.

The Vaccine is prepared for your appointment to reduce wait time.

You will be required to wear a face covering and confirm that you have no symptoms or have not been in contact with anyone infected with COVID 19.

You will receive your vaccination in the designated area of the pharmacy which we have assigned the consultation room, which is prepped and sterilized between each appointment.

Following Vaccination

We ensure that you/the patient is feeling well and is advised to wait for 15 minutes in the vicinity of the pharmacy in case of any major adverse reactions, as we are trained to deal with such situations.

All patients will receive a Vaccine Record Card upon leaving. If details are provided, we will notify your GP within 7 days, that you/the patient has received the influenza vaccine. The HSE will also be notified within 7 days.

Side Effects

The most common side effects are mild and short in duration. The patient may develop soreness, redness, or swelling at the injection site. If necessary, these symptoms can be treated with an ice pack or simple analgesics, e.g., paracetamol or ibuprofen.

Mild symptoms such as headache, fever, aches, tiredness, mild sweating, and shivering may occur, generally within 6 to 12 hours of vaccination and lasting 48 hours. Patients confuse these symptoms with the flu, but it is the body responding to the vaccine. These symptoms may be treated with paracetamol or ibuprofen