Free walk in flu vaccine clinics for kids in Cork on Monday

Due to a surge of flu cases, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare will be holding free nasal flu vaccine walk-in clinics for children aged 2-17 on Monday, December 30.

Children are given the nasal vaccine by spraying the vaccine once into each nostril. It is a quick and painless spray. Children can breathe normally and many say it tickles when being given.

In Cork city, the clinic will be in St Mary’s Campus, Gurranabraher, Cork, T23 V09X from 12:30pm-3:30pm. There will also be a clinic in West Cork, in Newtown Vaccination Centre, Newtown, Bantry, P75 H304 from 10am-1pm. Children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian along with the child’s PPSN number.

Dr Rebecca Marshall, Specialist Registrar in Public Health Medicine, said: “Flu is the dominant winter virus, with cases multiplying quickly in the community. It can cause serious illness and children are twice as likely to contract flu and remain infectious for longer when compared with adults. They are also at higher risk of severe illness, complications and hospitalisation. Young children, in particular, are more likely than adults to be very sick and admitted to hospital because of flu. The best way to protect your family from severe cases of flu is to get the children’s vaccine.”

Symptoms of flu in children can include high temperature, muscle pains, headache and extreme tiredness.

Dr Marshall added: “Studies show that where children received the vaccine, it has a knock-on effect on the number of adults also presenting to hospital with flu; a win for all concerned. It is safe, effective and free of charge for those who are eligible. Vaccinating children protects them — and it also protects their siblings, parents, grandparents and those who are vulnerable.”