The flu season is almost here.

For most of us, the flu is a horrible experience with up to ten days of fever, headaches, muscle pain and utter misery. However, we recover. 

Unfortunately some people are at risk of complications of the flu. These risk groups include people aged 65 and over, those ill with other conditions such as chronic heart or lung disease or diabetes, and pregnant women. For them, flu can cause devastating illness or even death.

Seasonal flu vaccines have been safely providing protection from flu to millions of people across the world for more than 60 years. Any side effects are usually mild and serious side effects are extremely rare. The flu vaccine cannot give you the flu as it does not contain any live flu virus.  

Seasonal flu vaccine is the only protection against the flu, and people in the risk groups, along with all healthcare workers and carers who look after the ill and the elderly, need to get the vaccine every year. 

The flu vaccine is free to healthcare workers to protect them from getting the flu and to prevent the spread of flu to family and patients. The last thing healthcare workers want to do, whether working in a hospital or in the community, is to put patients or loved ones at risk.  

Healthcare workers should contact their line manager or occupational health department to arrange for vaccination.

The HSE’s dedicated immunisation website - www.immunisation.ie - provides details on the seasonal flu vaccine along with answers to any questions people may have about flu. Information leaflets are available for downloading and are also available in GP surgeries, pharmacies and HSE local health offices. 

Every year flu causes severe illness and death. Get your flu vaccine now. It's a lifesaver.