Any patients who wish to book a vaccine appointment with us in Ballyhaunis should contact us through the website, by email or by phone.

How the flu vaccine works

The vaccine works by protecting against 4 strains of the flu virus. These are the most likely to be circulating this flu season.

Anyone who needs a vaccine should get a new one every autumn. Strains of flu change over time and that is why is it also known as seasonal flu.

The vaccine works by helping your immune system to produce antibodies. If you have had the vaccine and you come into contact with the flu virus, the vaccine can stop you from getting sick.

The vaccine starts to work within 2 weeks.

As the antibodies that protect you decline over time, this is another reason why you need to get a fresh dose of the vaccine every year.

It should be noted that the flu vaccine does not protect against Covid-19.  It is safe to get both the Covid-19 vaccine and the flu vaccine separately.

Who should get the flu vaccine?

Some people are more at risk of complications if they catch the flu.

To help those most at risk, the vaccine is available for free to the following groups:

• If you are 65 years of age or over
• If you are pregnant
• Children aged 2 to 17
• Those with long term health conditions. This includes chronic heart disease, chronic live disease, chronic respiratory disease, cystic fibrosis, moderate or severe asthma and diabetes.
• Those who are morbidly obese (ie have a body mass index (BMI) over 40)
• Those who have immunosuppression.
• Children on long term aspirin therapy.
• Those with Down syndrome.
• Those who living in a nursing home or long term care facility.
• Household contacts or carers of those with underlying chronic conditions or Down syndrome.
• Those who work in healthcare.
• People who are in regular contact with pigs, poultry or waterfowl.

Further information on the flu vaccine is available from the HSE here>>>

How do I make an appointment at Hazelhill Family Practice?

To book your flu vaccination consultation at Hazelhill Family Practice click here.

You can also call the Hazelhill Family Practice on 094 9630091/ 094 9632170.

Hazelhill Family Practice is a GP/ Doctor practice based in Ballyhaunis.

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Symptoms include headache, fatigue, an increase in body temperature as well as general aches and pains. The common cold, by contrast, generally starts with a sore throat and a runny nose.

The flu virus is an unpredictable virus. Complications of flu include bronchitis, pneumonia and ear infections. Because a number of different variations of the flu virus exist, we advocate that our patients get vaccinated each year.

HSE research has shown that increased vaccinations lead to a reduction in the rates of flu-like illness which in turn means less hospitalisation. In Ireland, between 200 and 500 people die from flu each winter.

How the flu vaccine works

The flu vaccine helps the immune system to produce antibodies which will prevent infection when the vaccinated person comes into contact with the flu virus.

Who should get the flu vaccine?

Children aged 2-12 years can receive the vaccine free of charge. We administer the vaccine by nasal spray.

We recommend vaccination for everyone and particularly for those in the following groups:

• People who are over 65 years old
• Anyone with long-term medical conditions
• People with Down Syndrome
• People with a body mass index (BMI) of over 40
• Pregnant women (can be given at any stage of pregnancy)
• Healthcare workers and carers
• People living with those in an ‘at-risk’ group

When to book your flu vaccine appointment?

At Hazelhill Family Practice we recommend that you book your flu vaccine as soon as possible before the virus is in greater circulation. The added factor of Covid-19 in our community means it’s now more important than ever to look after our health and that of our loved ones.

How do I make an appointment at Hazelhill Family Practice?

To book your flu vaccination consultation at Hazelhill Family Practice click here.

You can also call the Hazelhill Family Practice on 094 9630091/ 094 9632170.

The post Flu vaccine available from Hazelhill Family Practice appeared first on Hazelhill Family Practice.

No one likes to be laid up with the flu. A dose of the flu can leave people out of action for a week.

Even more seriously, the flu can pose extremely serious health effects for some at risk groups.

Flu symptoms include sore throat, running nose, muscle aches, dry cough, headache, fatigue and fever.

Contact the practice to make an appointment for the flu vaccine and avoid these problems. The quickest way to make an appointment is through this website. We also take appointments by phone.

The flu vaccine works by helping your immune system produce antibodies. These antibodies then fight the flu virus if they come into contact with it.

The flu vaccine is particularly recommended for the following groups:

• People who are 65 years of age and over.
• People who are pregnant.
• Children or adults with long term health conditions.
• People who are working in healthcare.
• A carer or household contact of those who have at increased medical risk of flu.
• Anyone working in a nursing home or other long term care facility.
• People who are in regular contact with pigs, poultry or water fowl.

Those who are taking medicines called combination checkpoint inhibitors should not get the flu vaccine, while anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose should also avoid taking the vaccine.

It is also recommended that flu vaccine appointments should be re-scheduled if you have an acute illness with a temperature above 38°C.

Please note, it can take up to 2 weeks for the flu vaccine to take effect. That’s why we encourage our patients to make their appointment sooner rather than later.

Click here to make your flu vaccine appointment>>>

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