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Book Your Flu Vaccination
Book in for a Flu Vaccination at either our Bray, Rafter St (Enniscorthy) or Finglas locations
Older people and flu vaccine
People aged 60 and older who get flu are at higher risk of serious illness.
Pregnancy and flu vaccine
The flu vaccine can prevent you from getting flu and passing it on to your baby.
Children and flu vaccine
Children and young people aged between 2 and 17 years can get the nasal flu vaccine.
Preparing for your flu vaccination
Do not attend for vaccination if you are showing symptoms of Covid-19:
• High temperature
• Sore throat
• Loss of taste or smell
• New cough
When attending vaccination please ensure you have the following documentation
• PPSN number
• Eircode
• Face mask
• Loose fitting clothes
Consent Forms
Linked below are the vaccination consent forms for your vaccination. If possible please fill this in, and bring it to your appointment.
How the flu vaccine works
Getting the flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself against flu. The vaccine starts to work after about 2 weeks.
The flu vaccine helps your immune system produce antibodies to fight infection. Having the vaccine can stop you from getting sick if you come in contact with the flu virus.
How it's given
For adults, the flu vaccine is given in your arm.
Children get the Fluenz Tetra vaccine through their nose as a nasal spray.
When it starts to work
It takes 2 weeks for the vaccine to work. It should protect you for the whole flu season.
Side effects
These may include:
• soreness, redness or swelling where you got the injection
• fever (high temperature - 38 degrees Celsius or above)
• mild sweating and shivering
• headache
• aches
• feeling tired
If you feel any of these side effects, rest and take paracetamol.
Serious side effects:
Serious side effects such as a severe allergic reaction are rare.
In very rare cases Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) has been reported. GBS is a condition that affects the nerves in the body. It causes nerve inflammation and can cause pain, numbness, muscle weakness and difficulty walking. You are far more likely to get Guillain-Barré syndrome from having the flu than from the flu vaccine.
Protection from the flu
Most people who get the vaccine will be protected from the flu. You can still get the flu after vaccination. But you should have milder symptoms and recover faster.
We do not know yet how effective this year's vaccines are. But normally the vaccine reduces the risk of getting flu by 40% to 60%. You need to have the flu vaccine every year. This is because the antibodies that protect you fade over time. Flu strains also change each year.
Flu vaccine and other vaccines
If you have had other vaccines recently, it is safe to get the flu vaccine.
For example, if you have had your:
• COVID-19 vaccine, booster shot or additional dose
• pneumococcal vaccine (pneumonia vaccine) - if you are 65 or older this is recommended
• school vaccines
Who should not get the flu vaccine
You should not get the flu vaccine if you:
• have had a severe allergic reaction to a previous flu vaccine or any part of the vaccine (including polysorbate-80)
• are taking medicines called combination checkpoint inhibitors, for example, ipilimumab plus nivolumab
• have a temperature greater than 38 degrees Celsius - wait until you are well before getting the vaccine
• have severe neutropoenia - low levels of a type of white blood cell
• if you have primary autoimmune neutropenia, you should be able to get the flu vaccine. Talk to your GP if you are not sure.
Who can get a free flu vaccine
You can get a free flu vaccine if you are:
• pregnant
• living in a nursing home or other long-term care facility
• in regular contact with pigs, poultry or waterfowl
People with these conditions can also 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 all cancer patients)
• 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
Free flu vaccines will be offered to carers or household contacts of people who have:
• a health condition listed above
• Down syndrome
Who is a carer?
Free flu vaccines will not be offered to household contacts of:
people aged 65 years and older, who • do not also have a chronic health condition
• pregnant women
• children aged 2 to 17 years
• healthcare workers
• carers
If you cannot get a free flu vaccine
If you cannot get a free flu vaccine Grants Pharmacy charges €30.
*Repost from the HSE website.