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Around one-in-four HSE staff had received this year’s vaccine up to the end of November, HPSC figures show
The President the Medical Council has urged healthcare workers to avail of the flu vaccine after seeing ‘increasing numbers’ of children fall ill with the virus.
Medical Council President Dr Suzanne Crowe
Suzanne Crowe said: “As a consultant working with very sick children, we are seeing increasing numbers of children presenting with respiratory and flu like illnesses.
“This is being replicated in hospitals across the country with the younger and older members of our communities and those with pre-existing conditions most at risk of complications and hospital admissions during this flu season.
Latest figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) show that, in the week up to December 6, a total of 2,944 cases of influenza were recorded, almost 1,000 more than the previous seven days.
A total of 657 people with flu were hospitalised in the first week of December. Of those, seven were admitted to an intensive care unit. The death of one person with flu was recorded that week.
“I would strongly recommend that all healthcare workers avail of the vaccine, not only to protect yourself and your family but also your patients,” Dr Crowe added.
“This will reduce the numbers of healthcare workers who will require sick leave and help ensure our hospitals are adequately staffed for what is fast becoming a very busy period for us.”
Dr Tadhg Crowley
Chair of the Irish Medical Organisation’s GP committee, Dr Tadhg Crowley, told RTÉ Radio 1 that his practice has seen a rise in recent weeks in patients contacting his clinic with flu-like symptoms, including a notable rise in unwell children.
However, he added that the current flu surge has not led to a substantial rise in vaccinations being carried out among his patients. He called for more people, especially children, to take advantage of existing flu vaccination programmes.
While uptake of the flu vaccine this season has been high among at-risk groups such as nursing home residents has been high, just 26 per cent of HSE healthcare workers received the vaccine as of the end of November, well below the 75 per cent target set by health officials. Among children between the ages of 2 and 17, just 17 per cent have received the nasal flu vaccine that’s currently available to them.
“Now is the time to act to protect yourself and your loved ones as we quickly approach Christmas,” said Medical Council CEO Dr Maria O’Kane.
Dr Maria O’Kane, Medical Council CEO
“Those who are in public facing roles interacting with many people, including healthcare workers, should consider getting the flu vaccine.”
“As the festive season kicks off and our socialising may increase, please consider getting the vaccine before meeting with those more vulnerable, especially as families get together over Christmas dinner.”
“For most the flu can be managed at home with over-the-counter pain killers, fluids and rest but for those at risk it can lead to hospitalisation and serious complications, so please don’t risk your loved ones, or ruin your festive season, and avail of the flu vaccine,” concluded Dr O’Kane.
Flu vaccines are available across the country from GPs and pharmacists. For more information, please visit www2.hse.ie/conditions/flu/get-vaccine/.
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