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HSE urges public to get flu vaccine as data shows annual flu season could hit 'within weeks'

The executive briefed the media on the latest update on its ‘winter plan’ today.

THE HEALTH SERVICE Executive (HSE) has urged vulnerable groups to get vaccinated after new data showed that the annual flu season is expected to arrive within weeks.

Figures released by the executive at a weekly update of its ‘winter plan’ today showed that the number of cases of influenza-like illnesses has risen compared with the same time last year.

Data also showed that 19 people were hospitalised by the illness last week, one of whom required intensive care. 

The HSE’s Assistant National Director of Health Protection, Dr Kevin Kelleher, said the recent upsurge in cases suggested that the annual flu season could arrive within two or three weeks.

“We’re still at the point where prevention is possible,” Kelleher said.

“Anyone who’s in the [vulnerable] groups – over 65s or under 65s with medical conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or who are being treated for cancer – should get the vaccine.

“As should pregnant women. They are really quite an important group because [the flu] can be really catastrophic for one or two pregnant women each year.”

He also urged parents to keep children away from elderly relatives such as their grandparents if they picked up the illness, in order to prevent its spread to more vulnerable individuals.

The HSE has reminded those with flu-like symptoms to wash their hands and warned that there was no evidence that face-masks were an effective method of containing the illness.

“If you’re trying to prevent by wearing a mask, it’s your hands picking up viruses that live on surfaces for weeks,” Dr Vida Hamilton, the executive’s National Clinical Advisor said.

“You pick it up, then you touch your face or you fiddle with your mask, and you’ve exposed yourself to the virus.

“So in terms of prevention, hand-washing is the most effective method and good infection prevention and control practices.”

Kelleher added that those afflicted with the flu should sneeze into paper tissues or their elbows and then use alcohol gel to wash their hands to avoid contaminating others.

“It’s really an important issue every year, this issue of how you don’t spread the flu or any other respiratory virus by the way you deal with it,” he said.

The HSE also reminded the public that a winter ready checklist was available for vulnerable members of the public on its website.

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    Mute Dublin Wings
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    Nov 21st 2019, 4:51 PM

    Got the flu jab 10 days ago – dying with severe case of man flu today.

    61
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    Mute Fozz
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    Nov 21st 2019, 5:01 PM

    @Dublin Wings: those two things are unrelated.

    103
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    Mute Chris Judge
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    Nov 21st 2019, 5:02 PM

    @Dublin Wings: It takes at least 2 weeks for the full effect of the flu vaccine to kick in anyway. That’s what I was told when I got it in October.

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    Mute Ross Hetherington
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    Nov 21st 2019, 5:04 PM

    @Dublin Wings: whats your point?

    9
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    Mute Eamonn Connaghan
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    Nov 21st 2019, 7:48 PM

    The flu vax should be tax deductible or even free for paye workers and self employed people. I got the flu 2 years back and was out of work for a week with no pay. I got the vax last year bcos I couldn’t risk the loss of a weeks wage again. The cost of the jab for the exchequer to paye workers and self employed people would be far less than the loss to the exchequer when we have to take a week off work. It’s free for medical card holders so why not the rest of us.

    52
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    Mute Barry Carmody
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    Nov 21st 2019, 10:38 PM

    @Eamonn Connaghan: Some employers pay for it.

    5
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    Mute Stephen Kearon
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    Nov 21st 2019, 11:45 PM

    @Eamonn Connaghan: excellent point

    3
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    Mute Vladimir Macro
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    Nov 21st 2019, 9:44 PM

    When did the flu jab become recommend to everyone.

    I can recall it was it was only for the elderly a number of years ago.

    Does anyone know why this has changed

    15
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    Mute Tommy D
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    Nov 21st 2019, 6:33 PM

    The same way it recommended getting the swine flue vaxzzzzzzzzzzzzz

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    Mute ianglen
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    Nov 21st 2019, 5:09 PM

    Depends entirely on your level of risk should you ever contract the Flu proper, or whether you live/work around people who might die from complications.

    14
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    Mute Sandra Macken
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    Nov 21st 2019, 7:56 PM

    @Tommy D swine flu vaccine pandemrix was an untested live vaccine. Flu jab is totally different.

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    Mute Kath Noonan
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    Nov 22nd 2019, 6:23 AM

    @Sandra Macken: Hahahahaha Thalidomide was ‘safe’ too. Never believe ‘research’ from those who stand to profit.

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    Mute Ger O'Reilly
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    Nov 21st 2019, 9:49 PM

    Perhaps the HSE should set an example and ensure all of its employees are innoculated against flu before they lecture everyone else.

    13
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    Mute Kath Noonan
    Favourite Kath Noonan
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    Nov 22nd 2019, 6:21 AM

    Chemicals in our food, water, air, soil, and now people are vaping more than they ever smoked. For ur body’s sake don’t add vaccines to the mix. WHY would u push more chemicals into ur body if ur not sick? It’s a money maker for the pharma and health industry.

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    Mute Chris Judge
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    Nov 22nd 2019, 9:17 AM

    @Kath Noonan: Chemicals are everywhere, because everything is made up of different chemicals. Even you! Stop using it as a dirty word – it’s not.

    7
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    Mute Ciara Ní Lúing
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    Nov 22nd 2019, 2:40 AM

    Here in Canada it’s free. You can walk into any Shoppers Drugmart and get them, workplaces organise nurses to come in and give them. It should be just as accessible and affordable back home.

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    Mute Pat Redmond
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    Nov 22nd 2019, 9:33 AM

    Photos of injections don’t help! A photo of flu victim would tell the true story.

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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Nov 22nd 2019, 11:36 PM

    @Pat Redmond: Yes! Next year, maybe they’ll use a better image than that. People don’t like the look of needles. I look away myself.

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    Mute Jeanette Dunne
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    Nov 26th 2019, 7:17 AM

    My little girl gets her jab every year, I’m the first in line when it comes out. I get it too as I am her carer and every year like clock work she gets the flu, I even picked it up last year. It starts a whole wave of sickness for her once January starts. Is it because other kids aren’t being vaccinated or are they getting the jab wrong every year who knows. But here we go, try to keep her out of the dirty hospitals is always my mission.

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    Mute David GR
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    Nov 22nd 2019, 8:36 AM

    Fear nothing

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