From Monday 4 December, the age for children who can get a vaccine will be extended so children and teens aged 2-17 can get a free nasal spray flu vaccine. Find a pharmacy to book an appointment. Some children will be offered their flu vaccine in school and it is also available from your GP.
COVID-19 and flu vaccines are available from your GP or pharmacy for older people, healthcare workers, people who are pregnant and those at higher risk. It takes a couple of weeks for the vaccines to take effect so make sure to get yours as soon as possible.
HSE injury units treat injuries that are not life-threatening such as broken bones, dislocations and minor burns. Find your nearest injury unit here. There are also lots of options to consider when you need care, such as a GP, pharmacy or GP out of hours service.

Visit hse.ie/winter for advice on how to protect yourself and your family during winter, managing common illnesses and when to get help.

Protect you and your baby this winter – flu, COVID-19 and whooping cough vaccines

The HSE is urging all pregnant women to get the flu, COVID-19 and whooping cough vaccines to offer themselves and their babies the best protection from serious illness this winter.

You can get the flu or COVID-19 vaccine at any stage in your pregnancy. Find a local pharmacy giving flu and COVID-19 vaccines on the HSE website.

You should get the whooping cough vaccine between 16 and 36 weeks of your pregnancy. This is when the vaccine is most effective. You can get the whooping cough vaccine through your GP practice.

If you have questions, talk to your GP (doctor) or a trusted healthcare professional. You can also visit hse.ie to learn more about your recommended vaccines.

Did You Know?

Giving Blood

Giving blood makes it possible for many people to lead normal healthy lives. Every year thousands of patients require blood transfusions in our hospitals, because they are undergoing surgery, recovering from cancer or have been in a serious accident. 

· Only 3% of the eligible Irish population give blood, providing blood for a population of over 4 million
· 3,000 blood donors are needed each week in Ireland
· Blood is required every day of the year
 
What blood is used for

One in four people will need a blood transfusion at some point in their lives
Over 1,000 Irish people receive transfusions every week in Ireland.

Approximately 70,000 patients will have transfusions in Irish hospitals this year

The IBTS supplies hospitals in the Republic of Ireland with blood and blood products 365 days a year

Blood is required for much of the services our health system provides. For example, a car accident victim may require up to 30 units of blood, a bleeding ulcer could require anything between 3-30 units of blood, or a coronary artery bypass may use between 1-5 units of blood

A typical unit of blood lasts for just 35 days, but in some cases such as blood used for very young children; this blood must be used within 5 days of it’s collection.

Information about your blood
An average adult has between 10 and 12 pints of blood
7% of a person’s body weight is made up of blood
Human blood travels 60,000 miles per day on its journey through the arteries, arterioles and capillaries and back through the venules and veins
Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body
Blood carries carbon dioxide and other waste products back to the lungs, kidneys and liver for disposal
There are about 1 billion red cells in two to three drops of blood

Blood Group Distribution Facts

The most common blood group in Ireland is O positive (47% of the population)
The rarest blood group in Ireland is AB negative (1% of the population)
The most common blood group is O, accounting for about 46% of the world’s population. However, in some areas other blood groups predominate, in Norway for example, type A is the most prevalent
People in the West of Ireland are predominantly of blood group O
There is a higher concentration of Group A blood in counties which historically received Viking, Anglo Norman and English population settlements
There are more people with Rhesus negative blood on the East coast than the West