Don’t be a winter flu statistic – get vaccinated today

HSE South West encourages eligible people across Cork and Kerry to get their flu and Covid-19 vaccines to avoid serious illness this winter.

Last winter, 25,000 confirmed cases of flu were reported in Ireland, with almost 6,000 people hospitalised and 185 admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). There were over 300 deaths among people with confirmed flu.

HSE South West Regional Director for Public Health Dr Anne Sheahan said:

“Last year, thousands of people were admitted to hospital with both flu and Covid, and of those, almost 200 of them ended up in intensive care and a significant number died. This is serious and that's the reason why I'm encouraging you strongly to go and get vaccinated. Take it when it's offered; it is important that you protect yourself, your family and all your loved ones.

“If you get the vaccine, you're 40%-60% less likely to get the infection and even if you do get flu or Covid-19, you're much less likely to end up really ill or sick or in hospital.”

Who should get a vaccine:

• Everyone aged 60 years and older and people with certain underlying medical conditions or a weakened immune system, are recommended to get both the flu and Covid-19 vaccines.
• All healthcare workers, pregnant women and children aged 2 to 17 years are recommended to get the flu vaccine.

Where to get your vaccine:

Flu and Covid-19 vaccines are available free of charge to eligible people and can be given at the same appointment. Vaccination is available through participating GPs and pharmacies, while HSE vaccination teams will provide vaccines to residents of nursing homes and other residential care facilities and to people who are housebound. Dedicated flu vaccination clinics will also be available for healthcare workers.

The free nasal flu vaccine is available for children aged 2 to 17 years through participating GPs and pharmacies, with some children also offered the vaccine through school-based programmes.

Talk to a participating GP or pharmacist about getting your flu vaccine or visit hse.ie for more information.

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