CHI urges children to get flu vaccine as 650 children attend emergency departments

Ottoline Spearman

Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) is urging families to protect their children against flu as emergency departments continue to experience extremely high demand.

On Monday, CHI Emergency Departments and Urgent Care Centres saw 650 children, with the majority presenting with flu-like symptoms including fever, cough, sore throat, and breathing difficulties.

While flu can be managed at home in most cases, very young children and those with underlying conditions are at higher risk of becoming seriously ill, with some requiring hospitalisation, CHI said.

Dr Patrick Fitzpatrick, a consultant in Emergency Medicine who practices primarily in CHI at Temple Street, commented: “The rise in flu among children over the last week has been significant. The children’s flu vaccine is free, safe, and still available. It’s not too late to protect your family.”

The HSE provides a free flu vaccine for all children aged 2–17, delivered as a quick and painless nasal spray.

Families can access the vaccine through participating GPs and pharmacies.

Dr Fitzpatrick said: “Flu spreads quickly through households, schools, and crèches. Not to mention, it can easily ruin Christmas for families.

"We strongly encourage parents and guardians to consider vaccination now to reduce the risk of severe illness and to help ease the growing pressure on our Emergency Departments.”

For more information on the children’s flu vaccine, including how and where to get it, visit hse.ie/flu.

Information on how to treat flu symptoms can also be found at hse.ie/flu.