Here’s 5 things you didn’t know about the flu vaccine. It’s more important than ever

Brought to you by the HSE National Immunisation Office. 

Flu season is well and truly upon us and honestly, it's the last thing anybody needs.

2020 has been some year and I know we're not the only ones looking forward to welcoming in the New Year. With the COVID-19 pandemic, it's easy to forget that there are other illnesses out there that can have detrimental effects on families and communities, and flu is one of them. Did you know that children are more likely than adults to get severe complications from the flu? If they contract it they're at risk of pneumonia, bronchitis and painful ear infections. Almost 5000 children in Ireland were hospitalised with flu in the last 10 years and 40 children died. The good news is that there's a simple way you can protect your family by having your kids vaccinated this flu season. We've gathered some information so that you know all the facts when deciding to have your kids vaccinated this flu season:

1. The vaccine for kids is a simple nasal spray and it's completely painless
2. The vaccine for kids is completely free and all you have to do is book an appointment with your local GP or pharmacy
3. The vaccine is suitable for all healthy 2-17 year olds
4. If your kids are vaccinated this season it will help reduce the burden on our healthcare systems responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
5. The first batch of children's flu vaccines start to expire from early January, so get those appointments in

The last thing anybody needs in their lives right now is more worry and concern, so it's important to be informed of the facts. The facts are children who are sick with flu miss days in crèche, childcare and school, they also miss out on their usual activities such as hobbies and sports. For teens in particular, they've missed so much outdoor activity and sporting events, the last thing we want to see is them missing out again in 2021. If you want to protect your family and community today book an appointment to get your children vaccinated so you can look forward to a happy and healthy 2021. For more information on getting the flu vaccination for your children contact your local pharmacy or GP today. Brought to you by the HSE National Immunisation Office.