- Early vaccination protects you and your community.
- Many people now entitled to free vaccine in their local pharmacy.
IPU, 30 September 2024: The 2024/25 Winter Flu Vaccine is now available in pharmacies nationwide. Pharmacists are advising people to get the flu vaccine early this year and have issued a reminder that people in at-risk categories are entitled to a vaccine free of charge at their local pharmacy.
Flu is a highly infectious illness, and the season lasts from October to April. Last year over 4,000 people were hospitalised with flu and sadly 214 dying with the virus. Vaccination offers the best protection from flu and is strongly recommended.
According to IPU President Tom Murray, “flu is an extremely contagious respiratory illness. While most people will recover within a week to ten days even a mild case of the flu can be extremely unpleasant and have a negative impact on social and family life. We know that more serious cases of the flu lead to hospitalisations and death every year. Vaccination significantly reduces your chances of contracting the flu.
“With over 4,000 hospitalisations last year flu has a profound impact on the healthcare system compounding overcrowding and creating challenges for all patients. It is incumbent on everyone in society, even the young and healthy, to protect our communities from these negative effects. The more people who are vaccinated the less the virus will circulate.”
The flu vaccine is available in 1,300 pharmacies nationwide, who are also providing free vaccines to a large range of at-risk groups that includes:
- Aged over 60;
- Children aged between 2 and 17;
- Healthcare workers;
- Pregnant women; and
- People living with various health conditions, their carers, and families.
Concluding Mr Murray said “The flu vaccine is a quick and easy undertaking. Taking twenty minutes out of your day might prevent you suffering a nasty illness or infecting others. The sooner your get your vaccine the sooner you are protected, so we recommend that you go early to your pharmacy and protect yourself.”
ENDS
