What is the Flu Vaccine?

The flu vaccine protects you against the strains of the influenza virus that are most likely to be circulating this flu season. The vaccine is available every year in our pharmacy to adults and children at risk of flu and its complications. 

The flu vaccine helps your immune system to produce antibodies that combat the virus to help reduce your chances of getting sick and experiencing any complications The flu vaccine starts to work within 2 weeks after administration.

It’s important to remember that you need to get a new vaccine every autumn to stay protected because there are many different strains of the flu circulating each year but also because the protective antibodies your previous vaccination produced decline over time. 

The vaccine is not 100% effective and you may still get flu after you have the vaccine, but 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

Why is it Important to Protect Yourself & Your Family from the Flu?

The influenza virus is an unpredictable virus. If you are healthy you will usually recover in seven days. However, 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.

Complications of flu include bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections and rarely acute encephalopathy (swelling of the brain). Serious complications of flu are more likely if you have a chronic medical condition or if you are aged 65 years or older. Pregnant women are also at increased risk of flu complications.

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 generally mild. You may have a mild fever and aching muscles for a couple of days after having the vaccine. Your arm may also be a bit sore where you got the injection but serious side effects of the flu vaccine are very rare.

NASAL SPRAY VACCINE FOR CHILDREN

For children, you don’t have to worry about the fear of needles. The nasal spray flu vaccine is given to children as a small spray into each nostril of a child’s nose. 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.

Who should NOT get the vaccine?

• 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

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR A FREE FLU VACCINE?

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 Ballybay Pharmacy?

All you have to do is to fill in the form below and our 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.