The HSE has announced that nationwide walk-in vaccination clinics will be open from this week for children ages 2-17 years old.
The HSE has revealed they are opening these clinics due to the rising number of flu cases in children as well as the significant number of children who were hospitalised over the past few months.
Nearly 700 children were hospitalised with the flu during this winter alone.
No appointment will be necessary and the vaccine will be free of charge for children aged 2-17 years. A number of vaccination centres have the walk-in clinic open for children as well as participating GPs and pharmacies.
The HSE are encouraging parents to avail of the opportunity to vaccinate their children with the free nasal flu vaccine as it is only available until January 23. After this date, only children with medical conditions which put them at risk of serious illness from the flu will be able to receive the vaccine.
HSE officials are ‘expecting the flu to circulate for a further number of weeks’.
Dr Aparna Keegan, Specialist in Public Health Medicine and Flu Lead, HSE National Immunisation Office said, “Flu is a serious illness that can be dangerous in children too. We are seeing rising cases of flu in the community so we are encouraging parents of children aged 12-17 to get their children vaccinated to protect them while there is still time”.
“The nasal spray flu vaccine is a very safe and effective vaccine and helps your child’s immune system produce antibodies that fight infection. It cannot give your child the flu”.
She continued, “If your child has had the flu vaccine and they come into contact with flu virus, these antibodies will help them fight the flu and reduce the risk of getting sick or needing to go to hospital”.
“The vaccination process is a simple nasal spray and is given by spraying the vaccine once into each of the child’s nostrils. Getting the nasal spray flu vaccine is a safe, effective and a pain free way to protect your child from flu this winter”.
