HSE chief repeats call for people to avail of flu vaccine

The chief clinical officer of the HSE, Dr Colm Henry has repeated a call for people to avail of the flu vaccine, particularly those in vulnerable groups including older adults, those with underlying conditions and young children.

Speaking on RTE radio’s Morning Ireland, Dr Henry said that vaccination is very effective in preventing serious illness. He acknowledged that the figures of those who have been vaccinated are not as high as they were during the pandemic when people queued to get vaccinated, but 60 per cent of those aged over 70 had been vaccinated.

When asked if there was vaccine fatigue, Dr Henry said that long before the pandemic there had been an annual flu vaccine and that continued, “for the great majority of time, people do listen to the message and understand the protection that vaccines give them and understand it gives great protection from serious illness. The message still is strong from us that the vaccine affords great benefits and protection from serious illness. Anybody who’s eligible to accept the vaccine, it’s not too late.”

The HSE on Wednesday announced that free walk-in nasal flu vaccine clinics for children aged 2 to 17 would be available from December 27th to 29th, noting that flu cases have risen rapidly among all age groups over the last number of weeks.

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Dr Henry also cautioned parents of young babies to consider repeated exposure in congregated settings. He advised them to call ahead and ask if there was anybody with symptoms going to attend, to ensure that a small baby was not exposed to somebody who may be symptomatic or indeed asymptomatic with the respiratory virus.

In response to a news report on Thursday that hospitals were “clearing out patients” in a bid to avoid New Year gridlock, Dr Henry said there was nothing new in this as people liked to get home for Christmas.

It is also not unusual for elective procedures to be cancelled at this time of year, he said, to ease pressure on Emergency Departments.

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