IT WILL SOON be cheaper to avail of the flu vaccine once the HSE puts the finishing touches to a new arrangement with Irish pharmacists.

It was announced by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) that the Minister for Health has approved legislation to allow pharmacists to administer winter flu vaccinations to patients.

DocMorris & Unicarepharmacy is preparing to offer the service in more than 30 of its branches as soon as HSE supply arrangements are finalised.

It is expected this will take two weeks.

Any adults can avail of the service,while people over 65 years of age and with a medical card are entitled to receive it for free at their pharmacy or GP.

Fees for all other patients are at the discretion of the pharmacy, and DocMorris & Unicarepharmacy has decided on a blanket fee of €20 for non-medical card customers.

A visit to the GP for a flu jab can cost up to €65.

Cormac Tobin, Managing Director of DocMorris & Unicarepharmacy, said:

It was a very easy decision to keep our fee for this service affordable and the same for all customers, whatever their age. This is another exciting development for Irish pharmacy and we don’t want to tarnish it by attempting to ‘cash-in’ at the expense of the Irish consumer.

It is not  clear what the charge for this service will be across the board, or if smaller pharmacies will participate, but the Irish Independent reports Boots pharmacies will charge €30 for the service.

The HSE is encouraging the elderly, those with long-term illnesses and healthworkers, amongst others, to receive the jab.

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