Sir, – The health news is worrying: “Highest Covid levels in hospitals since March” and “Ireland set for ‘nastier’ flu season this winter” (both October 27th). As reported, a particularly severe strain of flu is now doing the rounds.
Another story on the same page, “Vaccination centres quiet as small numbers seek first shots and boosters”, suggests a solution may be at hand.
We could encourage higher take-up of flu vaccine and reduce disease prevalence by using existing Covid-19 vaccination centres and staff to administer the flu vaccination free of charge to all who want it.
Most of the infrastructure exists already, with minor modification: physical locations, staff who are trained and available to administer the jab, patient appointment systems, vaccine storage and distribution facilities, etc.
:fill(white):background_color(white)/static.themebuilder.aws.arc.pub/irishtimes/1647534191476.png)
Given the battering the HSE, and particularly its heroic staff, endured because of Covid, the last thing we need is a trolley crisis in the coming months that’s even worse than usual. I wonder how much that seasonal trolley crisis costs every year in money, misery and lives lost.
The mass Covid vaccination programme has been a huge success. Why not a free mass flu vaccination programme too?
– Yours, etc,
KIERAN CAGNEY,
Greystones, Co Wicklow.