HSE urges people to avail of essential winter immunisations

Public Health HSE Dublin and North East is urging those eligible to avail of the flu and COVID-19 vaccine, and for parents of eligible babies to avail of the free catch-up RSV immunisation over the next four weeks.

·       All those aged 60 years and older and anyone aged 6 months and older with an underlying medical condition or a weak immune system are recommended to get both a flu and COVID-19 vaccine this autumn/winter.

·       Both flu and COVID-19 vaccines are available free of charge from participating GPs and pharmacies and can be given at the same time or at any time interval.

·       All healthcare workers and all children aged 2-17 years are recommended to get the flu vaccine. All pregnant women are also recommended to get the flu vaccine, as pregnancy increases the risk of complications from flu infection.

·       The children’s nasal spray flu vaccine is available free for all children aged 2 to 17 years from GPs and Pharmacies and some children will be offered the vaccine in school. The nasal spray flu vaccine is safe, effective and painless.

·       HSE vaccination teams will also provide both vaccines for people living in residential care facilities, including nursing homes as well as to housebound patients. Healthcare worker vaccination clinics will take place in many workplaces across the country.

·       All individuals with regular close contact with poultry, waterfowl or pigs are strongly recommended flu vaccines, this is particularly important as avian influenza is circulating in the bird community.

·       This year, as well as providing RSV immunisation to newborn babies during the winter season in maternity hospitals from 1^st September to 28^th February 2026, the HSE is also offering the RSV immunisation to babies born between 1^st March and 31^st August 2025.

Dr Suzanne Cotter, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, Public Health HSE Dublin and North East, said: “As we enter the winter season, we are starting to see respiratory viruses circulate in the community and in healthcare settings. It is very important that all those who are in recommended groups get their free flu and COVID-19 vaccines. Flu and COVID-19 are serious illnesses. They can lead to severe complications, hospitalisations, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and deaths. Vaccination is the most effective way to protect yourself, your family and your community in the months ahead. For more information, please speak to your GP, Pharmacist or visit hse.ie.

Influenza activity in Ireland is continuing to increase, with case and hospitalisation numbers both rising in the last week, according to new data from the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).

The most recent data from the HPSC for last week (Week 46, 2025) shows numbers of nationally notified cases increasing to 637, and hospitalised flu numbers increasing to 118 and 2 patients in ICU.

In the Dublin and North East region we are also starting to see an increase in flu notifications similar to the national picture. The age group most affected in the country are children aged 0-14 years and adults aged 65 years and older.”

Dr Paul Mullane, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, Public Health HSE Dublin and North East, said: “The RSV infection can cause serious illness, especially for babies. 4 out of every 100 infants with RSV will be hospitalised, with some babies needing special treatment in intensive care units.

Last year was the first year the RSV immunisation was given to babies in Ireland and there was a 75% drop in babies being hospitalised with RSV.

This year, as well as providing RSV immunisation to newborn babies during the winter season in maternity hospitals from 1^st September to 28^th February 2026, the HSE is also offering the RSV immunisation to babies born between 1^st March and 31^st August 2025.

Appointments will be available for a limited period of time from 17^th November to 12^th December 2025 in clinics across the country. The portal for booking appointments has reopened, and can be accessed through www.hse.ie/rsv. This immunisation is only available at these clinics, it is not available through GPs and Pharmacies.”

Vaccination uptake figures

Influenza vaccine uptake

Most recent data from HPSC on uptake of LAIV among children aged two to 17 years was that 14.6% of children were vaccinated. The uptake of influenza vaccine among adults 60 years + was 50.6% and healthcare workers was 22%.

The influenza vaccination uptake in both children and adults in the counties Louth, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan is less than that reported in the Dublin region and the national average.

COVID-19 vaccine uptake

In the same report the uptake for COVID-19 vaccine among 80 years old was 51.5% and among 60-79 years was 26.4%.