HSE advise 'get your flu jab, not the flu!'

The flu season has arrived and people in at risk groups are being advised to get their annual flu jab, after it was revealed that 28 people died in this region as a result of flu last season.
Flu is a very serious and sometimes deadly disease, with potentially 1,000 flu-related deaths in Ireland during a severe flu season. The flu is a highly contagious virus that can be spread easily. The impact of flu across health services in Ireland is increasing year on year with the most notable increase from season 2016-2017 to 2017-2018 where hospitalisations and critical care admissions nearly tripled; outbreaks in residential facilities and hospitals doubled and mortality rates more than doubled. The 2017-2018 season figures exceeded all previous records in Ireland, including those of the 2009 pandemic. In CHO 1 (Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan and Sligo), sadly 28 people died of Flu last season with 229 deaths across the country. 

Dr Peter Finnegan of the Department of Public Health Medicine North East reported that in the 2017/2018 flu season in the North East for the counties of Cavan and Monaghan, 541 cases of flu were reported and 49% of these were hospital admissions. Many more cases went unreported as people looked after themselves at home and did not seek help from their GP or hospital. 

He says that the annual flu jab is the safest and most effective way to protect against the life-threatening complications of flu. It is the best defence against flu for people in at risk groups and health care workers. The at risk groups include people aged 65 years and older, people (including children) with long term medical conditions, all pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy, residents of nursing homes or long-stay facilities, all health care workers and also those in regular contact with pigs, poultry or water fowl. 

Cara O’ Neill, head of health and wellbeing for this region also stressed the importance of being vaccinated against flu and keeping healthy and well this winter. She stated: “I want to strongly encourage people in the at risk groups to get the flu jab to protect yourself, your loved ones and those around you.”

She added that a 'Flu and Winter Plan' has been prepared and will be implemented throughout the Winter period.

The Flu jab is available from your General Practitioner and local Pharmacy. People with medical or GP visit cards can avail of the jab for free. All Health Care Workers can receive the jab for free within their workplace through Occupational Health and Peer Vaccinator clinics. 

Further information is available on www.hse.ie/flu. This website provides details on the annual flu vaccination and the pneumococcal vaccine, along with answers to any questions people may have about flu. Advice, tips, information and videos on getting over flu and other common illnesses are available at www.undertheweather.ie