Clare healthcare workers urged to protect themselves from Covid-19 and Flu this winter
HSE Mid-West Community Healthcare, UL Hospitals Group and Public Health HSE Mid-West have come together to support healthcare workers to protect themselves and the public from Covid-19 and influenza this winter.
The three organisations have jointly launched the annual HSE Mid West Autumn Winter Vaccinations Campaign, which sees Covid-19 and flu vaccinations offered free of charge to healthcare workers across Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary.
Dedicated vaccination clinics for Healthcare Workers will be hosted in a range of acute and community healthcare settings throughout all three counties.
Details of these clinics will be communicated with staff throughout the winter, via the usual internal channels and via a dedicated page on the HSE website.
All healthcare workers can also avail of both vaccinations for free through their GP or local pharmacy.
According to the HSE, Flu and COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective vaccines, and they can be given at the same appointment.
Healthcare workers throughout the Mid-West are being encouraged to get vaccinated to protect themselves and the patients
and service users they care for.
Healthcare staff are up to 10 times more likely to get influenza compared to the general population, and each year the Winter Vaccinations campaign encourages them to get the flu vaccine to protect themselves, their patients and their families.
The threat of Covid-19 also remains and the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) has recommended this autumn that health and care workers get their Covid-19 vaccine.
This will give recipients' immune system the top up it needs to protect them from serious illness.
According to an analysis of 136,523 cases of Covid-19, in early 2023, there was a tenfold decrease in Covid-19 deaths in the Mid-West region following the introduction of the free Covid-19 vaccine.
Public Health HSE Mid-West has recorded 660 deaths since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the analysis, the case fatality rate pre-vaccine rollout was an estimated 2.2%. This had decreased to 0.2% since the rollout of the vaccine.
Pictured receiving her flu and Covid-19 vaccinations is Michelle Lynch, HSE Mid West Community Healthcare
Declan McNamara, Chief Director of Nursing and Midwifery, UL Hospitals Group, added: “This Winter it is so important to get vaccinated in order to build a robust immune defence in our hospitals and communities against the threat of dual Covid-19/Influenza infection. We know that these diseases can cause serious illness and death, particularly among vulnerable groups. We also know that if there are high levels of disease circulating in the community, then it puts an additional burden
on all health services at what is already a busy time of the year."
Dr Breda Cosgrove, Consultant in Public Health Medicine at Public Health HSE Mid-West, said: “If you work in a healthcare setting, you are a much higher risk of getting flu and Covid-19 compared to the general population. You can also spread these viruses to others including elderly and vulnerable patients. This winter, we’re urging all healthcare workers across the Mid-West to get vaccinated against both flu and Covid-19 to protect themselves and the people they’re taking care of every day. There will be vaccination clinics for healthcare workers across the region over the coming weeks where you can get both vaccines at the same time.”
Once again this year, HSE Mid-West has teamed up with UNICEF and will be making a donation in recognition of the commitment of staff to being vaccinated. This will help to support UNICEF to continue its vital work as part of its life-saving immunisation programme.