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Flu & Pneumonia Vaccines

Flu Vaccine

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The flu vaccine is free to and advised for children aged 2 -17 years of age and all other individuals who are in an at risk group. The at risk groups are as follows:

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  • 65 years of age and over

  • Pregnancy

  • An adult or child aged 6 months or older with a long-term health condition like:​

    • chronic liver disease

    • chronic renal failure

    • chronic respiratory disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, moderate or severe asthma or bronchopulmonary dysplasia

    • chronic neurological disease including multiple sclerosis, hereditary and degenerative disorders of the central nervous system

    • diabetes mellitus

    • haemoglobinopathies

    • morbid obesity i.e. body mass index (BMI) over 40

    • immunosuppression due to disease or treatment (including treatment for cancer)

    • children with a moderate to severe neurodevelopment disorder such as cerebral palsy chronic heart disease, including acute coronary syndrome

  • Down syndrome

  • Living in a nursing home or other long-term care facility

 

It is also free to and advised for the following groups:

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  • Those who work in healthcare

  • Those who are carers or live with someone who is at risk of flu because of a long-term health condition

  • Those who are a carer or live with someone who has Downs syndrome

  • People who are in regular contact with pigs, poultry or waterfowl

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For more information please click on the link below:

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https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/pubinfo/flu-vaccination/about-the-vaccine/

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The children’s vaccine is a nasal vaccine. For further information click on the link below:

https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/pubinfo/flu-vaccination/flu-vaccine-for-children/

            

Pneumonia Vaccine

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The pneumonia vaccine protects against a common bacteria (Streptococcus Pneumoniae). This bacteria is responsible for 50% of the pneumonias that occur in the community.

 

The vaccine is very important as we are now seeing a lot of resistance to the antibiotics that we have commonly used to treat this condition. 

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The pneumonia vaccine is recommended for the following groups:

 

Everybody aged 65 years and over and everybody aged 2 years and over with;

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  • Diabetes

  • Chronic lung, heart, liver, or kidney disease

  • Chronic neurological disease

  • Children aged over 2 years and under 5 years of age with a history of invasive pneumococcal disease

  • Coeliac disease

  • Down Syndrome

  • Cochlear implants or are about to get cochlear implants

  • Immune deficiency because of a disease or treatment, including cancer patients

  • HIV infection

  • Absent spleen or a non-functioning spleen

  • CSF leaks, either congenital or complicating skull fractures or neurosurgery

  • Intracranial shunt.

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For more information please click on the link below:

https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/othervaccines/pneumo/

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Please email at admin@glengarriffmedicalcentre.ie or contact reception at

027-63300 to make an appointment for either or both of these vaccines

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Shingles Vaccine

This vaccine is licensed for individuals aged ≥50 years to reduce the risk of developing Shingles and Postherpetic Neuralgia

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What is Shingles?

Shingles is an infection of a nerve and the area of skin around it. It is a painful skin rash caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus. If you have had chicken pox in the past, you may develop shingles as the virus remains inactive in your nervous system after the illness. Your immune system keeps the virus in check until such a time, usually in later life, it reactivates and causes shingles.

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Shingles is a very common condition especially in the over 50s. In Ireland, approximately about one in four people experience shingles at some point during their lifetime. The shingles vaccine is a safe and effective way to reduce your chances of developing shingles.

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What is Post Herpetic Neuralgia (HPN)?

HPN is a persistent pain lasting ≥30 days after the acute infection or after all lesions have crusted (9-45% of all cases) in the area of the rash. The pain can be severe and incapacitating and can persist for months and occasionally for years. Older adults are most likely to have PHN and to have longer lasting and more severe pain (13% or more people aged ≥60 years with zoster will develop PHN) 

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The Shingles Vaccine

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The shingles vaccine contains a weakened chickenpox virus that encourages your body to produce antibodies against the herpes zoster virus. Your antibodies are proteins produced by your body to destroy disease or infection. The vaccine helps to protect you from getting Shingles or PHN

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Who should get the vaccine?

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Shingles can affect anyone. It can occur at any age, but it is most common in people over 50 years. Although, it is not known exactly why the virus reactivates in later life, it is thought that it may be the result of a lowered immunity (a reduced ability to protect against infection).

Lowered immunity may be due to

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  • Being older– immunity decreases with age. Shingles most commonly occurs in people over 50 years old.

  • Physical and emotional stress– releases a chemical into your system that can weaken your immunity.

  • HIV and AIDS– significantly weakens your immunity system. People living with HIV/AIDS may be up to 25 times more likely to get shingles.

  • A recent bone marrow transplant– weakens your immune system because of the conditioning you receive before your transplant.

  • A recent organ transplant – medication may be required to suppress your immune system so your body can accept the donated organ. After a transplant, 25-45% of people may develop shingles.

  • Chemotherapy– typically used in the treatment of some cancers, it can significantly weaken your immune system

 

Side-effects of the Shingles Vaccine

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Like most vaccines, you may experience some mild side-effects including:

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  • A mild fever

  • Redness, itching, pain, hardness and swelling around the site of injection

  • Muscle ache, headache, and

  • Feeling tired

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Aside from an extremely small risk of serious allergic reaction, there are no serious side-effects associated with the shingles vaccination. The side-effects usually pass within a few hours.

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On rare occasions, a person has developed chickenpox following a shingles vaccination, but this occurs in fewer than 1 in 10,000 people.

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How much does it cost?

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The shingles vaccine costs €190 for Medical Card, GP Visit Card and private patients alike. This cost includes administration of the vaccine by the Doctor or Nurse.

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Please email at nurse@glengarriffmedicalcentre.ie or contact reception at 027-63300 to make an appointment

Childhood Vaccinations

Immunisation is a simple, safe and effective way of protecting babies and children against certain diseases. You can make an appointment with your doctor or nurse to get these vaccines.

 

The baby vaccines are administered at 2, 4, 6, 12 & 13 months of age and are free of charge.

Please see the following link for further information

 

There are other vaccines available such as the chicken pox vaccine and if you wish your child to have this vaccine please speak to the doctor or nurse.

 

This vaccines are not included in the HSE schedule and so a charge applies. For further information click on the link

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