All of the following are eligible to receive the flu vaccine free of charge under this National Campaign, whether they are GMS and Private there is no distinction. 

HSE Recommended Groups for Influenza vaccination

• People 65 years of age and over (recommended aQIV)

 • Children aged 2 to 17 years (recommended LAIV)

 • Pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy (recommended QIV)

 • all those aged 6-23 months and 18-64 years at increased risk of influenza- related complications such as (recommended QIV):

• Those with chronic illness:

  1. chronic heart disease (including acute coronary syndrome)
  2. chronic liver disease
  3. chronic neurological disease (where the neurological condition compromises clearance of respiratory secretions)
  4. chronic renal failure
  5. chronic respiratory disease (including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, moderate or severe asthma, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia)
  6. diabetes mellitus
  7. haemoglobinopathies

 • Those with immunosuppression due to disease or treatment, including asplenia or hyposplenism, and all cancer patients

 • Those with any condition that can compromise respiratory function (e.g. spinal cord injury, seizure disorder, or other neuromuscular disorder,) especially those attending special schools/ day centres

• Children and adults with Down syndrome

• Children with moderate to severe neurodevelopmental disorders such as cerebral palsy and intellectual disability

• Children on long-term aspirin therapy (because of the risk of Reye • syndrome)

 • Those with morbid obesity (Body mass index >40) • Residents of nursing homes, old people’s homes, and other long stay facilities where rapid spread is likely to follow introduction of infection

• Healthcare workers

• Household contacts of people with underlying chronic health condition or Down syndrome

• Out-of-home care givers for people who have an underlying chronic health condition or have Down syndrome. A carer is someone who provides ongoing significant level of care to a person who is in need of care in the home due to illness or disability or frailty.

 • People in regular contact with pigs, poultry or waterfowl

What Vaccines are to be used in this campaign?

FLU Vaccine

There are three Flu Vaccines as follows:

  1. Fluad Tetra: this is an adjuvant quadrivalent inactivated Influenza vaccine (aQIV) for people aged 65 years and over
  2. Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine (QIV) (split virion, inactivated): QIV is recommended for children aged 6 months – 23 months and for adults aged 18 to 64 years with chronic medical conditions, pregnant women, healthcare workers (including GP practice staff and students) and carers.
  3. Fluenz Tetra, a live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV): This is an intranasal application and is recommended for all children aged 2 years to 17 years at the time of vaccination.

Egg Allergy

The National Immunisation Advisory Committee recommends that those with confirmed egg anaphylaxis or egg allergy can be given influenza vaccine in a primary care or school setting with the exception of those who have required admission to ICU for a previous severe anaphylaxis to egg. Those requiring the flu vaccine who have had a previous ICU admission for a severe anaphylaxis to egg should be referred for specialist assessment with regard to vaccine administration in hospital.