Who can get a free flu vaccine

You can get a free flu vaccine if you are:

• age 65 and older
• age 2 to 12
• a healthcare worker
• pregnant
• living in a nursing home or other long-term care facility
• in regular contact with pigs, poultry or waterfowl
• someone with a health condition that puts you at higher risk of flu (age 6 months and older)
• living with someone who has a health condition that puts them at higher risk of flu
• a carer for someone who has a health condition that puts them at higher risk of 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
• Down syndrome
• haemoglobinopathies
• a body mass index (BMI) over 40
• immunosuppression due to disease or treatment (including asplenia or hyposplenism, and cancer)
• children with a moderate to severe neurodevelopmental disorder such as cerebral palsy
• children on long-term aspirin therapy
• any condition that can compromise respiratory function, like spinal cord injury, seizure disorder or other neuromuscular disorder, especially people also attending special schools or day centres

Covid Booster Dose

NIAC recommended groups for the Autumn COVID-19 booster vaccine programme -

those aged 50 years and above 

those aged 5 years and above with immunocompromise associated with a suboptimal response to vaccination 

those aged 5 years and above with medical conditions associated with a higher risk of COVID-19 hospitalisation, severe disease or death 

health and care workers

The recommended interval between the autumn booster and the last booster dose is 6 months for those aged 50 years and above and is also 6 months for those aged 5 years and above with immunocompromise.

For all others aged 5-49 years the recommended interval is 9 months.

In exceptional circumstances or for operational reasons the minimum interval of three months between booster doses can be used, for example to ensure early protection this autumn if the spring booster was given at least 3 months ago.

More information is available at the following link. https://www2.hse.ie/screening-and-vaccinations/covid-19-vaccine/get-the-vaccine/covid-19-vaccine-booster-dose/