The Autumn/Winter campaign 2023/2024 for COVID-19 boosters and Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme is due to commence. It is aimed, where possible, to provide for co-administration of both vaccines at the same time for eligible individuals.

Persons aged 65 and older, all children aged 2-12 pregnant women (at any stage of pregnancy), those aged 13-64 years with underlying chronic conditions, healthcare workers, carers and household contacts of people with increased medical risk, and people with regular contact with pigs, poultry or water fowl are eligible for the HSE free flu vaccine in 2023/24.

There are two types of flu vaccines will be available for 2023/2024 HSE seasonal flu vaccination programme.
1. LAIV: Nasal spray suspension vaccine – Available for use in the HSE programme for all children aged 2-12 years and at-risk children aged 13-17 years
(eligible cohorts as listed below).
2. QIV: Injectable inactivated egg-based quadrivalent influenza vaccine – Available for all other eligible populations including those eligible children (aged 2-17 years) with contraindications to LAIV.

Balrothery Pharmacy also provides influenza vaccines for patients who do not qualify for HSE-eligible vaccine administration. This service is private, €25 and you pay in store.

If you have received a influenza vaccine in 2022/23 or at any stage a COVID-19 Vaccination in Balrothery Pharmacy, you can book an appointment over the phone. If not, you must book online. 

If you require a different time, call us to see if we can help.

You will be able to book any type of influenza vaccination listed above in the booking form below. Please ensure that you select the correct vaccine and age profile in the dropdown menu. You will receive an email confirming your vaccination appointment.

Submit

https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/flu/

Who are at-risk patients?

Those aged 6 to 23 months and aged 13-64 years with:
o Chronic heart disease including acute coronary syndrome
o Chronic liver disease
o Chronic neurological disease including multiple sclerosis, hereditary and degenerative disorders
of the central nervous system
o Chronic renal failure
o Cancer patients
o Chronic respiratory disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis,
moderate or severe asthma or bronchopulmonary dysplasia
o Diabetes mellitus
o Down syndrome
o Haemoglobinopathies
o Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment, including asplenia or splenic dysfunction and
cancer patients
o Morbid obesity, i.e. body mass index of 40 or over
o On long‐term aspirin therapy (because of the risk of Reyes syndrome)
o With any condition (e.g. cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injury, seizure disorder, or other
neuromuscular disorder) that can compromise respiratory function especially those attending
special schools/day centres
o With moderate to severe neurodevelopmental disorders such as cerebral palsy and intellectual
disability

o Healthcare workers including all General Practice and pharmacy staff.

o Residents of nursing homes and other long stay institutions

o Carers and household contacts of people with increased medical risk**

o People with regular contact with pigs, poultry or water fowl

** Only household contacts or carers of people who have an underlying chronic health condition or have Down syndrome are eligible to receive an influenza vaccine. A carer is described as someone who is providing an ongoing significant level of care to a person who is in need of care in the home due to illness or disability or frailty e.g. those in receipt of a carer’s allowance. Household contacts of people aged 65 years and older (who do not also have a chronic health condition), of pregnant women, of children aged 2-12 years or of healthcare workers or carers are not recommended the influenza vaccine unless they are in an at-risk group themselves.

Please note that for children aged 13 to 17 years, only those who are in an at-risk group are eligible in the 2023/24 season cohort.

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.

Post vaccination observation

It is mandatory for the patient to wait for a minimum of 15 minutes in the pharmacy. If this is not practicable,
vaccine recipients should wait in the vicinity for 15 minutes after vaccination to ascertain if there is an
adverse reaction, including anaphylaxis