Flu vaccine for people with long-term conditions
The flu vaccine for at-risk groups will be available from the beginning of October 2020.
The flu vaccine for children will be available from the middle of October 2020.
Flu vaccine is strongly recommended for:
- Persons aged 65 and over
- Pregnant women (vaccine can be given at any stage of pregnancy)
- Adults and children aged 6 months and older with a long-term health condition such as:
- chronic heart disease, including acute coronary syndrome
- chronic liver disease
- chronic renal 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 mellitus
- haemoglobinopathies
- morbid obesity i.e. body mass index (BMI) over 40
- immunosuppression due to disease or treatment (including treatment for cancer)
- Adults and children aged 6 months and older with down syndrome
Children aged 6 months and older:
- with moderate to severe neurodevelopmental disorders such as cerebral palsy and intellectual disability
- on long-term aspirin therapy (because of the risk of Reyes syndrome).
The vaccine is also recommended for
- Healthcare workers including all GP practice staff
- Residents of nursing homes and other long stay institutions
- Carers and household contacts of people with increased medical risk
- People with regular contact with pigs, poultry or water fowl
Flu vaccine is also recommended for children aged 2 to 12 for the 2020/2021 seasonal flu programme.
Find out how to get the flu vaccine.
More information
- What is flu?
- Flu vaccine during pregnancy
- Flu vaccine for children aged 2-12 years
- Flu vaccine for healthcare workers
- return to immunisation.ie