Major push for Cork public to get covid and flu vaccines

The HSE is urging eligible people to get vaccinated against flu and Covid-19 this winter amid concerns that the uptake so far remains low. 

Director of National Health Protection at the HSE, Dr Éamonn O’Moore,  said that the low uptake may have “a serious impact on public health” in the coming weeks and months.

“There is no room for complacency at this point,” he said. 

“Our hospitals are already feeling pressure from a significant level of RSV, particularly our paediatric services. The winter in the southern hemisphere saw very high levels of flu, and this adds to the concern about our own winter.

“We are already seeing early signs that flu levels are rising and we expect it to be reaching its peak from mid-December and into January.

“Covid-19 levels are currently stable but we are seeing people seriously ill with covid-19, including in our ICUs now, and around half of those have not received boosters in the last six months".

“There is still time for people to get their vaccines, it takes around two weeks for the vaccines to take effect so now is the time to act.” 

Dr O’Moore reminded people that the lower the vaccination uptake, the more people will be admitted to hospital which he said will, in turn, lead to busier hospitals and increased pressure on services and staff.

The latest figures provided by the HSE show that as of November 1, 11.5% of HSE-employed healthcare workers have availed of the covid-19 autumn booster vaccine and 24.3% have had the flu vaccine.

49% of people aged 70 and 18% of those aged 50 to 69 have had a Covid-19 autumn booster vaccine up to November 12. 10% of people who are immunocompromised have had their Covid-19 vaccine this winter.

59% of people aged 65 and older, 9.5% of eligible children aged two to 12 years, and 18% of those aged 50 to 64 who are eligible have had their annual flu vaccine.