Flu Vaccinations

Why Do You Need a Flu Vaccination?

The influenza virus is an unpredictable, and for some people, a deadly virus. If you are healthy you will usually recover within a week. However, the flu can be very serious for certain groups of people and can cause serious illness and even death. In Ireland, between 200 & 500 people die from the flu each winter. Each year, flu causes up to five million cases of severe disease and over half a million deaths worldwide. 

The flu can cause severe complications including bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections and rarely acute encephalopathy (swelling of the brain). You are much more likely to suffer from these complications if you have a chronic medical condition or if you are aged 65 years or above. Pregnant women are also at increased risk of flu complications.

Why Should You Get the Flu Vaccine Each Year?

Vaccination helps to protect you against the most common strains of the influenza virus that are most likely to be circulating each season. The vaccine is available every year in Reidy’s Pharmacy to adults and children at risk of flu and its complications. 

The flu vaccine will help your immune system fight the virus by producing antibodies. It also decreases your chances of getting sick and suffering complications The flu vaccine starts to work within a fortnight of administration.

Because there are many different strains of the flu circulating from year-to-year you need to get the flu vaccination each Autumn. Furthermore, the protective antibodies your previous vaccination produced reduce over time. 

It’s important to remember that the flu vaccine is not 100% effective and you may still get the flu after you have the vaccine, but in this case it’s likely to be milder with no complications and you will recover more quickly.

Flu vaccines can reduce:

• the severity of illness
• complications
• flu-related hospitalisations
• admissions to critical care units

Is the Flu Vaccination Safe?

Flu vaccines have been given to millions of people worldwide for over 60 years, including pregnant women. Reactions to the vaccine are rare and are typically very mild. For example, you may have a mild fever and aching muscles for a couple of days after having the vaccine. There might also be some pain in your arm where you got the injection but serious side effects of the flu vaccine are very rare.

No Pain for the Kids!

Kids get the benefit of having the vaccine via a nasal spray. The flu vaccine is given to children as a small squirt of liquid into each nostril. The child can breathe normally while getting the vaccine – there is no need to take a deep breath or sniff. This painless vaccine will work even if the child has a runny nose, sneezes or blows their nose after the dose. This is a great advantage for parents who are worried about kids with a fear of needles or the pain that may result from injections.

Who should NOT get the vaccine?

Unfortunately, the flu vaccine is not suitable for everyone. If you are unsure whether you or a family member should get the flu vaccine, contact us below. The flu vaccine is not recommended for the following people:

• Persons with a history of severe allergic (anaphylaxis) reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine or any of its constituents
• People with an egg allergy must see their GP in order to be vaccinated
• Vaccination should be postponed if you have a temperature greater than 38 °C
• Vaccination is contraindicated for persons taking more than one combination checkpoint inhibitors (checkpoint inhibitor therapy is a form of cancer immunotherapy, please discuss with your pharmacist).
• The intranasal vaccine is contraindicated in:
  • Those currently experiencing an acute exacerbation of asthma symptoms
  • Persons who regularly require oral steroids for the treatment of asthma
  • Pregnancy
  • Children who live with severely immunosuppressed persons
  • Persons with significant immunosuppression due to disease or treatment

Some People Can Get the Flu Vaccine for Free.

The vaccine is FREE to everyone in the at-risk groups listed below:

• All those aged 65 years and over
• All children aged 2-12 inclusive
• All pregnant women, at any stage of pregnancy
• Chronic respiratory disease including cystic fibrosis, moderate or severe asthma, COPD
• Chronic heart, renal (kidney) or liver disease
• Chronic neurological disease including multiple sclerosis
• Diabetes mellitus
• Haemoglobinopathies such as sickle cell anaemia
• Hereditary and degenerative disorders of the central nervous system etc.
• Cancer patients
• Residents of nursing homes and long-stay institutions
• Children with conditions that compromise respiratory function eg. spinal cord injury, seizure or other neuromuscular disorder
• Morbid obesity ie. Body Mass Index (BMI) over 40
• Those who are immunosuppressed due to disease or treatment including those with missing or non-functioning spleens
• Healthcare workers & carers
• Household contacts or out of home carers of persons with increased medical risk
• People who have close, regular contact with pigs, poultry or waterfowl
• Down Syndrome
• Children on long-term aspirin therapy

How Do I Get the Flu Vaccination at Reidy’s Pharmacy?

All you have to do is to fill in the form below and our pharmacy team will contact you with information about the appointments that are available. When you arrive for an appointment, our pharmacist will give you the vaccination in our private consultation room. You may be eligible for a free flu vaccination if you are in one of the groups listed above. If not, a fee of applies for each person.