Eligibility

The National Immunisation Office have confirmed that the following groups will be eligible for a free HSE flu vaccine as part of the 2023/2024 seasonal influenza vaccination campaign:

All children aged 2-12 years at the time of vaccination
Persons aged 65 and older
Pregnant women (at any stage of pregnancy)
Those aged 6 to 23 months and aged 13-64 years with:
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Chronic heart disease including acute coronary syndrome
Chronic liver disease
Chronic neurological disease including multiple sclerosis, hereditary and degenerative disorders of the central nervous system
Chronic renal failure
Cancer patients
Chronic respiratory disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, moderate or severe asthma or bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Diabetes mellitus
Down syndrome
Haemoglobinopathies
Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment, including asplenia or splenic dysfunction and cancer patients
Morbid obesity, i.e. body mass index of 40 or over
On long‐term aspirin therapy (because of the risk of Reyes syndrome)
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
With moderate to severe neurodevelopmental disorders such as cerebral palsy and intellectual disability
Healthcare workers including all General Practice and pharmacy staff
Residents of nursing homes and other long stay institutions
Carers and household contacts of people with increased medical risk**
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), pregnant women, children aged 2-12 years or of healthcare workers or carers are not recommended the influenza vaccine.