Walk-in flu vaccine clinics for children begin to roll-out across the south east from today.
They start from 2:30-4pm in Kilkenny at the Newpark Primary Care Centre (Eircode R95 HAC4) and also in Waterford at the Old St Martin’s School, Kilcohan (X91 EY73)
The Carlow Vaccination Centre on the grounds of St Dympna’s Hospital (R93 X7TV) hosts its from 2:30pm to 4:30pm on Thursday (9th Jan) while in Clonmel the South Tipperary Vaccination Centre (E91 PR83) is at St Luke’s Hospital, Western Road.
Available free and without appointment at the clinic, the Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV) is administered to children aged 2-17 years by way of a spray in each nostril.
Parents /guardians must consent to vaccination at the time of vaccination and must also accompany the children in receipt. You’re asked to please bring the child’s PPSN with you.
A HSE spokesperson has told KCLR News; “Flu is a serious illness that can be dangerous in children, with studies showing that children are twice as likely as adults to catch and spread flu easily. Young children are also more likely than adults to be very sick from flu. Vaccinating children protects them – and their siblings, parents, grandparents and those who are vulnerable. See here.
The children’s nasal Flu vaccine is also available from pharmacies – find participating ones here.
The adult Flu vaccine is available from GPs and pharmacies. The HSE has recently completed a programme of Flu and COVID-19 booster vaccinations for residents and staff in both public and privately run long term care facilities. The HSE has ongoing clinics in place for healthcare workers to receive both Flu and COVID-19 booster vaccinations.
For those eligible, the COVID-19 booster vaccination is available from GPs and pharmacies.
For GPs in counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford and South Tipperary that are administering the Flu and COVID-19 booster vaccinations, please check here. As regards pharmacies in counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford and South Tipperary, where the Flu vaccine, the children’s nasal Flu vaccine and COVID-19 booster vaccinations are available, please check here.
Details of HSE Flu and COVID-19 vaccination clinics for healthcare workers are listed here.
Information to keep well during winter is listed here.
Patricia McQuillan is Director of Nursing/HSE Regional Vaccination Programme and has been discussing the above with our Brian Redmond on The KCLR Daily;
