Date announced for children's walk-in flu vaccination clinic in Leitrim
Sligo and Leitrim Community Vaccination Centres are now offering walk-in flu vaccination clinics for all children aged 2-17 years. No appointment is necessary and the vaccine is free of charge. In Leitrim vaccination clinics will be provided at the Carrick-on-Shannon CVC, Castlecarragh Road, N41 D7P3 on January 14 between 1pm nad 4.30pm.
The children’s free nasal flu vaccine will be available up until 23rd January. After this date, only children with medical conditions which put them at risk of serious illness from flu will be able to get a vaccine. The HSE is encouraging parents to avail of this opportunity to vaccinate their children against flu as flu continues to spread and is likely to continue circulating further for a number of weeks.
Dr Aparna Keegan, Specialist in Public Health Medicine and Flu Lead, HSE National Immunisation Office said: “Flu is a serious illness that can be dangerous in children too. We are seeing rising cases of flu in the community so we are encouraging parents of children aged 12-17 to get their children vaccinated to protect them while there is still time.
Sinead McConnell, General Manager Vaccination Programme Community Healthcare Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo stated “The nasal spray flu vaccine is a very safe and effective vaccine and helps your child’s immune system produce antibodies that fight infection. It cannot give your child the flu. If your child has had the flu vaccine and they come into contact with flu virus, these antibodies will help them fight the flu and reduce the risk of getting sick or needing to go to hospital.
“The vaccination process is a simple nasal spray and is given by spraying the vaccine once into each of the child’s nostrils. Getting the nasal spray flu vaccine is a safe, effective and a pain free way to protect your child from flu this winter.”
While most children who catch flu have mild symptoms, flu can sometimes lead to serious complications such as pneumonia or bronchitis in some children. Children, especially young children, are also more likely than adults to get severe complications of flu.