The 2021-2022 flu vaccination programme has been launched, with all healthcare workers urged to avail of a free flu vaccine.

According to the HSE, vaccination is essential for healthcare workers as they are 10 times more likely to get the flu. Every year, one in five healthcare workers develops the illness, putting themselves, their patients, colleagues, families and friends at risk.

The majority of workers will be offered their vaccine at work or through some GPs and pharmacies. Healthcare workers aged 65 and older can go to their GP or pharmacist to get the vaccine that is recommended for them.

This year, the vaccine being offered to people aged 65 and older is called Fluad Tetra, which is a adjuvanted quadrivalent influenza vaccine (aQIV). It is being offered in Ireland for the first time this year, but a similar vaccine has been used for several years in various countries, including the UK and US.

“Although the severity of the flu season can vary, we know that people aged 65 and over are most likely to be impacted and have an increased likelihood of severe illness, being admitted into hospital or dying from flu, when compared to the general population. The flu vaccine is the best protection against flu this winter,” commented Dr Aparna Keegan, a specialist in public health medicine and flu lead with the HSE National Immunisation Office.

The HSE aims to achieve a target of 75% uptake among healthcare workers this flu season.

“Last year we saw encouraging uptake among healthcare workers and my hope is that this trend will continue this year,” commented the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly.

As always, the flu vaccine is also offered free of charge to a number of other groups, including everyone aged 65 and older, pregnant women and people with certain long-term conditions, such as chronic heart disease, diabetes and COPD.

Between 200 and 500 people die from flu every winter in Ireland. Worldwide, flu causes 3-5 million cases of severe disease and up to 646,000 deaths annually.

For more information on why the flu vaccine is important for healthcare workers, click here.