Flu vaccine and COVID booster update Autumn 23
Posted by Eamonn Brady on
Get the flu vaccine...not the flu
(plus the Covid Booster)
Eamonn Brady is a pharmacist and the owner of Whelehans Pharmacies, Pearse St and Clonmore, Mullingar. If you have any health questions e-mail them to info@whelehans.ie
Influenza (flu) is a highly infectious acute respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. It can affect people of any age. You can get the flu vaccination your GP surgery or local pharmacy. The flu vaccine is free if over 65, children under 18, people with long-term illness, pregnant women, and health care workers. You can get your flu vaccine at Whelehans Pearse St and Whelehans Clonmore. It only takes a few minutes. For convenience you can book your flu vaccination online on the Whelehans Pharmacy website.
Symptoms of Flu
Symptoms of flu include sudden fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, non-productive dry cough, exhaustion, and weakness. Flu characteristically causes a temperature of 38 to 40° C that lasts 3-4 days.
Complications of flu
Most people recover from flu in 2-7 days, but in some it can last for up to two or three weeks. Flu can be severe and can cause serious illness and death, especially in the very young and in the elderly. Serious respiratory complications can develop, including pneumonia and bronchitis. Older people and those with certain chronic medical conditions are at particular risk of these complications. Pregnant women and women up to six weeks after giving birth have also been found to be at increased risk of the complications of flu. 80 to 90% of reported deaths from influenza occur in the elderly, mainly from bacterial pneumonia (200 deaths per year in Ireland), but also from the underlying disease.
Convenient Vaccination Service at Whelehans Pharmacies
The only way to get protected from flu is by getting vaccinated. Whelehans offer flu vaccine at our Pearse St and Clonmore store certain days for adults and children; For convenience you can book online on the Whelehans Pharmacy website or ring us at 04493 34591 (Pearse St) or 04493 10266 (Clonmore). It only takes a few minutes to get vaccinated. Cost €30. It is free for over 65s, children 2-12 (though kids flu vaccines won't start for a few weeks) and people with long term medical conditions and healthcare workers.
Covid-19 booster clinic at Whelehans
Whelehans Pearse St also offer a weekly walk in Covid-19 booster clinic (Autumn Booster campaign starts this week). You can get your Flu vaccine and Covid Booster together in a single visit to Whelehans Pharmacy.
I will discuss more about flu and Covid vaccines in the coming weeks.
Check www.hse.ie for more vaccine information. For comprehensive and free health advice and information call in to Whelehans Pharmacies, log on to www.whelehans.ie or dial 04493 34591 (Pearse St) or 04493 10266 (Clonmore).