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Winter 2023/2023 Influenza Vaccine will be available at Bridgetown Pharmacy from late September.

 

WHO SHOULD GET THE FLU VACCINE?

Anyone over the age of 10 is eligible to get the vaccine at Bridgetown Pharmacy. For certain ‘at-risk’ groups, the flu vaccine is highly recommended as you are more likely to experience serious complications if you catch the flu. If you are in one of these ”at-risk” groups and have a medical card or doctor visit card, you may be entitled to receive the vaccine free of charge:

• Those aged 65 and over
• Those with a long-term medical conditions such as diabetes, heart or lung disease
• Those whose immune system is impaired due to disease or treatment
• Those with a body mass index (BMI) over 40
• Pregnant women (can be given the vaccine at any stage of pregnancy)
• Residents of nursing homes and other long stay institutions
• Healthcare workers
• Carers
• People with regular close contact with poultry, water fowl or pigs

For further information see HSE

For those not in this cohort the price is €25.00.

WHO IS THE VACCINE NOT SUITABLE FOR?

  • Those with a history of severe allergic reactions to a previous dose of the vaccine or any of its ingredients.
  • Any one on certain combinations of medicines that affect the immune system.

ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS?

Most people have no problems after the flu vaccine. However, some people may experience a mild fever, feel tired or have aches and pains. There can also be soreness, redness or swelling at the site of the injection. These problems are not serious and do not last long.

Patient advice

  • Being vaccinated is likely to provide effective protection against this year’s strain of the winter flu virus; however there may still be a small chance of you catching the flu.
  • After vaccination it takes 10 – 21 days to be protected against flu. You cannot catch flu from a flu vaccination.
  • Blood tests for HIV, Hepatitis C and HTLV1 should not be taken for two weeks following vaccination because there is the possibility of a false positive reading.
  • On rare occasions, anaphylaxis may occur. We have procedures in place to deal with this.
  • If you are concerned about any aspects of your vaccination or about any symptoms or side effects, talk to us immediately.
  • If you have a condition that effects your immune system or are taking any long term medicines for such a condition, and this is the first time that you have received a flu vaccine, you will require a second dose in four weeks time.

The 2023 / 2024 flu vaccine

This year’s seasonal flu vaccine contains protection against 4 strains of flu virus. These are recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the strains most likely to be circulating this season.

The four strains are:

  • an A/Victoria/2570/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus
  • an A/Darwin/9/2021 (H3N2)-like virus
  • a B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus
  • a B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage)-like virus

The 2023/2024 HSE seasonal vaccination programme will offer 2 vaccines

  • the Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine (split virion, inactivated) manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur for people with long term conditions.
    A Patient Information Leaflet and the Summary of Product Characteristics are available from www.hpra.ie
  • the Fluenz Tetra nasal spray suspension Influenza vaccine (live attenuated, nasal) manufactured by AstraZeneca AB for children aged 2 to 12 years
    A Patient Information Leaflet and the Summary of Product Characteristics are available from www.hpra.ie