NGH launch Autumn Winter Vaccination Programme
The HSE’s winter vaccination programme got underway last week with the roll out of the free flu vaccine and COVID-19 autumn booster to recommended groups including healthcare workers.
Naas General Hospital launched their healthcare worker vaccination programme with the DMHG Mobile Vaccination Team who are supporting mobile vaccination clinics meaning staff will be provided with more opportunities to avail of their winter vaccines.
Flu and COVID-19 vaccines support your immune system to help protect you from serious illness. The COVID-19 autumn 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 healthcare 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. Healthcare worker vaccination clinics will also be in place across hospitals throughout the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group and the DMHG Mobile Vaccination team will be also visiting healthcare facilities with a mobile vaccination unit. HSE vaccination teams will also provide both vaccines for people living in residential care facilities including nursing homes as well as to housebound patients.
Dr Aparna Keegan, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, HSE National Immunisation Office, 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 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 even if you have had a COVID-19 vaccine you should still get your free flu vaccine.
I would also encourage people aged 65 and older to get their pneumococcal vaccine. It is available through GP practices and most people only need one dose for protection.”
Dr. Karn Cliffe, Director of Nursing & Midwifery at the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group commented: “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.”
Trevor O’Callaghan, CEO of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group said, “It is important that we are supporting our staff right across Hospital and Community Services to get their winter vaccines and we are delighted to work with the DMHG Mobile Vaccination Team who will provide a more flexible and mobile means of reaching all our staff this winter. Healthcare workers are a high risk group in terms of their exposure and we know that the winter is a busy time for services so we need to give ourselves the best chance this winter. As healthcare workers, flu and covid vaccination is important to protect ourselves and to prevent the spread of the flu and covid to colleagues, families and patients.”
Maeve Fitzgerald, Vaccination Lead, Naas General Hospital said, “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. We are working to make sure our healthcare workers get access to vaccination as 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.”
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 COVID19 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 COVID19 vaccines.
The children’s Flu vaccine (a nasal spray) will also launch on 9 October and will be available from participating GPs and Pharmacists for children aged 2 to 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
The HSE 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 the flu vaccine and COVID-19 Autumn booster.
A multi-media advertising campaign encouraging all eligible groups to come forward for their recommended vaccines will be rolled out from early October on radio, TV, digital and social media.
To see what vaccines are recommended for you, visit www.hse.ie , call HSELive on 1800 700 700 or talk to a participating GP or Pharmacy.
Find your local clinic here:COVID-19 and flu vaccination clinics for staff - HSE Staff
Picture captions:
Picture 1: Ana Maria Clarke, Consultant at Naas General Hospital with the DMHG Mobile Vaccination Team and hospital vaccination teams receiving winter vaccines.
Picture 2: Ana Maria Clarke, Consultant at Naas General Hospital receiving both the flu vaccine and COVID-19 autumn booste
Picture 3: Niamh Barrett, Deputy General Manager at Naas General Hospital receiving both the flu vaccine and COVID-19 Autumn booster.
