Seasonal Flu Vaccine Campaign 2025/26

What is the Flu?

Seasonal influenza (Flu) is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses that infects your lungs and upper airways. It is common in all parts of the world. Most people recover without treatment. Influenza spreads easily between people when they cough or sneeze. Vaccination is the best way to prevent the disease.

Symptoms of influenza include acute onset of fever, cough, sore throat, body aches and fatigue. Treatment should aim to relieve symptoms. People with the flu should rest and drink plenty of liquids. Most people will recover on their own within a week. Medical care may be needed in severe cases and for people with risk factors.

Why is it important to get the Flu Vaccine each year?

Vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza. Safe and effective vaccines have been used for more than 60 years. The flu vaccine helps your immune system to produce antibodies to fight the virus. When someone vaccinated comes into contact with the virus, these antibodies attack the virus preventing infection. This makes the illness less severe and reduces the chance of complications and death. Immunity from vaccination goes away over time and the strains of the virus change each year. This is why it is called seasonal flu. So annual vaccination is recommended to protect against influenza.

When are Flu Vaccines Available?

The national Seasonal Flu Vaccination campaign runs from September to February each year.

Who can get a free Flu Vaccine?

Anyone over the age of 2 years is eligible to get the vaccine at our pharmacy. For certain ‘at-risk’ groups, the flu vaccine is highly recommended.

As per the latest update regarding 2025/26 HSE Influenza Vaccination Programme, flu vaccine is FREE to everyone in the at-risk groups* listed below:

• All aged 60 years and older
• All those aged 18 years and older living in residential care facilities for older people and other long stay facilities
where rapid spread is likely to follow the introduction of infection
• All aged 2 years and older who is at increased risk of influenza related complications:
o Cancer, Chronic heart disease, Chronic kidney disease, Chronic liver disease, Chronic neurological
disease, Chronic respiratory disease, Diabetes and other metabolic disorders, including inherited
metabolic disorders, Haemoglobinopathies, immunocompromise due to disease or treatment, Body mass
index ≥ 40kg/m2, Serious mental health conditions, Children and adults with Down syndrome, Children
with moderate to severe neurodevelopmental disorders, Children on long term aspirin therapy
• All children and young people aged 2 to 17 years
• All healthcare workers
• All pregnant women (at any stage of pregnancy)
• Carers and household contacts of people at increased risk of influenza related complications
• People with close, regular contact with pigs, poultry or water fowl

*Eligibility criteria for a FREE Flu Vaccine are subject to change by the HSE

If you are not in an at-risk category but are aged between 18-59 years, please book ‘Private Adult Flu Vaccine’.

Note, that all those aged 60 years and over are eligible for a FREE HSE Adult Flu Vaccine.

Free Nasal Flu Vaccine for children

All children aged 2-17 years are eligible for a Free Nasal Flu Vaccine. This is administered as a nasal spray. The flu vaccine helps to protect children against flu. Most children who get the flu have mild symptoms. However, children and young people with chronic health conditions are at risk of serious complications from the flu.

Are there any side effects?

The side effects of a Flu Vaccine are usually very mild with some people experiencing a mild fever, tiredness or aches and pains. There can also be soreness, redness or swelling at the site in case of an injection.

In very rare cases severe allergic reactions can occur. We are prepared to deal with these and ask you to remain in the pharmacy for 15 minutes after your vaccination, in case you have any immediate side effects.

COVID Vaccine Services

Primary Dose COVID Vaccine

Your first COVID vaccine could be either 1 or 2 doses depending on your age and your risk from COVID-19. The second dose is recommended for people with a weak immune system, 4 weeks after the first dose or a COVID-19 infection. In the case of immunocompromised individuals or people with a very high risk of COVID-19, an additional dose is recommended 8 weeks after the second dose – only if advised by a specialist.

Seasonal COVID Booster doses

The protection from previous doses or a COVID-19 infection may weaken over time. Booster doses help boost your antibodies and provide protection from becoming seriously ill or needing to go to the hospital if you get COVID-19.

The recommended groups for the Autumn COVID-19 booster vaccine programme for 2025/26 are:

• All aged 60 years and older
• All aged 18 years and older living in a long term care facility for older adults
• All aged 2 years and older with immunocompromise associated with a suboptimal response to vaccination
• All aged 2 years and older with a medical condition associated with a higher risk of hospitalisation, severe disease or death due to COVID-19:
o Cancer, Chronic heart disease, Chronic kidney disease, Chronic liver disease, Chronic neurological disease, Chronic respiratory disease, Diabetes and other metabolic disorders including inherited metabolic disorders, Haemoglobinopathies, Body mass index ≥ 40kg/m2, Serious mental health
conditions, Children and adults with Down syndrome, Children with moderate to severe neurodevelopmental disorders

Healthcare workers and pregnant women who are in the groups listed above are recommended to get a COVID-19 vaccine in autumn/winter 2025/2026. Anyone aged over 18 years who is not in any of the groups listed above, can get a COVID-19 vaccine in autumn/winter 2025/2026 if they choose to, following discussion with a healthcare provider. There should be at least a 3 month interval between the last COVID-19 vaccine or the last COVID-19 infection before getting vaccinated.

In pregnancy

You can get a COVID-19 booster once during pregnancy. The best time to get your booster dose is between 20 and 34 weeks. But you can get it at any stage of pregnancy. Wait 6 months since your last COVID-19 vaccine or COVID-19 infection before getting a booster.

If it is over 12 months since you had a COVID-19 vaccine or COVID-19 infection, you may be offered a booster dose earlier in your pregnancy.

If you have a weak immune system, you can get a second booster 6 months after your last COVID-19 vaccine or infection.

Many countries have given multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccines. There have not been any unexpected safety concerns so far. The safety of the vaccines continues to be monitored by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The most regularly reported side effects are headache, fever, and tiredness.