Getting the flu vaccine

The flu vaccine is safe and effective. It helps to protect you from flu.

The best time to get the flu vaccine is before the flu season starts. It's available from October each year.

Where to get the flu vaccine

You can get a flu vaccine from a GP or pharmacy.

You can get the flu vaccine where you live if you:

live in a nursing home
are housebound

Find a GP

Find a pharmacy giving flu vaccines

How you get the vaccine

Adults get the flu vaccine as an injection into the arm.

Children age 2 to 17 get the flu vaccine as a spray into the nose (nasal spray).

Who can get a free flu vaccine

We offer a free flu vaccine to people with a higher risk of serious illness from flu.

You can get a free flu vaccine if you:

are age 60 and older
are age 2 to 17
are a healthcare worker
are pregnant
live in a nursing home or other long-term care facility
have regular contact with pigs, poultry or waterfowl
have a health condition and are age 6 months or older
live with someone who has a certain health condition
are a carer for someone who has a certain health condition

Conditions with a higher risk of illness from flu

People with these conditions can get a free flu vaccine:

chronic heart disease, including acute coronary syndrome
chronic liver disease
chronic kidney failure
chronic respiratory disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, moderate or severe asthma, or bronchopulmonary dysplasia
chronic neurological disease including multiple sclerosis, hereditary and degenerative disorders of the central nervous system
diabetes and other metabolic disorders (including inherited metabolic disorders)
Down syndrome
haemoglobinopathies - group of inherited blood disorders
a body mass index (BMI) over 40
immunosuppression due to disease or treatment (including asplenia or hyposplenism)
cancer
children with a moderate to severe neurodevelopmental disorder such as cerebral palsy
children on long-term aspirin therapy
serious mental health conditions

Talk to a GP or pharmacist if you have a long-term health condition and you are not sure if you need a flu vaccine.

Who is a carer?

A carer is someone who provides an ongoing, significant level of care to someone who needs care in the home due to illness, disability or frailty.

Who should not get the flu vaccine

You should not get the flu vaccine if you:

had a severe allergic reaction to a previous flu vaccine or any part of the vaccine
have a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or higher - wait until you are well before getting the vaccine

There is separate advice for who should not get the children's nasal flu vaccine.

Flu vaccine and egg allergy

If you have an egg allergy, talk to your vaccinator before getting the vaccine. Most people with an egg allergy can get the flu vaccine.

Check with your GP

Talk to your GP or specialist if you:

have severe neutropoenia (low levels of a type of white blood cell)
take medicines called combination checkpoint inhibitors - for example, ipilimumab and nivolumab

Your GP or specialist can tell you if you can get the flu vaccine.

How the flu vaccine works

The flu vaccine helps your immune system produce antibodies to fight infection. Having the vaccine can stop you getting sick if you come in contact with the flu virus.

The vaccine starts to work after about 2 weeks.

Side effects

After the vaccine, you may have some mild side effects.

Mild side effects can include:

soreness, redness or swelling where you got the injection
fever (high temperature - 38 degrees Celsius or above)
headache
aches
feeling tired

If you have any of these side effects, rest and take paracetamol.

The names of standard flu vaccines are Vaxigrip or Influvac Sub-unit. You can find the patient information leaflets for the vaccines online.

How to find your patient information leaflet online

Serious side effects

Serious side effects such as a severe allergic reaction are rare.

Reporting side effects

If you or your child get side effects from a vaccine, you can report it to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).

Your doctor, nurse, pharmacist or a family member can also report the side effect to the HPRA.

Report any harmful effects to the Health Products Regulatory Authority - hpra.ie

Flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine

The flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine are 2 separate vaccines.

You can get can both vaccines at the same time if you are recommended a COVID-19 vaccine.

You can get flu and COVID-19 vaccines from a GP or pharmacy.