We provide the following vaccines for adults
Flu
The flu is a contagious viral infection that spreads every winter. Getting the flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself against flu.
The best time to get the flu vaccine is before the flu season starts.
It is available from October to the end of April each year.
You can get a free flu vaccine if you are:
- aged 65 years and older
- aged 2 to 17 years
- a healthcare worker
- pregnant
- living in a nursing home or other long-term care facility
- in regular contact with pigs, poultry or waterfowl
- someone with a health condition that puts you at higher risk of flu
- living with someone who has a health condition that puts them at higher risk of flu
- a carer for someone who has a health condition that puts them at higher risk of flu
Pneumococcal
- Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) which is for those aged 65 years and older and those over 2 years with long term medical conditions. This vaccine protects against 23 types of pneumococcal disease including those most likely to cause severe disease.
Who should be vaccinated with PPV23 Pneumococcal vaccine?
Pneumococcal disease is a very serious disease. It is a major cause of illness and death, particularly amongst the very young. Those with the following conditions should be vaccinated with PPV23.
Everybody aged 65 years and over and everybody aged 2 years and over with;
- 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.
PPV23 vaccination is not recommended for healthy children and adults as they are at low risk of pneumococcal disease
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a viral disease that attacks the liver and may cause jaundice (yellow skin and eyes). In most people the virus clears up within 6 months and they become immune. But some people (about one in ten of those who get hepatitis B as an adult) remain infectious and may go on to develop cirrhosis or cancer of the liver over a period of years. Follow up is important to detect early changes and treat when necessary.
Hepatitis B is preventable by using a safe and effective vaccine.
Hepatitis B vaccine is given to all babies as part of the 6 in 1 vaccine that is given at 2, 4 and 6 months of age.
Vaccination is also recommended for people at risk of infection. This includes:
- babies born to infected mothers,
- intravenous drug users,
- household contacts and sexual partners of infected people,
- people who change sexual partners,
- men who have sex with men,
- individuals at high risk due to medical conditions,
- health care professionals,
- Gardaí and Rescue Service personnel,
- prison staff and employees of security companies
- people with a learning disability who attend an institution
- families adopting or fostering children from countries where hepatitis B is very common
- people travelling to parts of the world where hepatitis B is very common
Whooping Cough
Whooping cough (also known as pertussis) is a highly contagious illness that can be life threatening. The disease is most serious in babies less than 6 months of age – many babies are hospitalised with complications such as pneumonia and brain damage.
Babies less than 6 months of age are too young to be fully vaccinated.
THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT WHOOPING COUGH IS BY VACCINATION
Whooping cough vaccine is offered to all children
- as part of the 6 in 1 vaccine at 2, 4 and 6 months of age.
- at 4-5 years of age (4 in 1 vaccine)
- in 1st year of second level school (Tdap vaccine)
All children should get these vaccines on time to protect them and babies too young to be vaccinated.
The best time to get the whooping cough vaccine is between 16-36 weeks of your pregnancy to give your baby the best protection. The vaccine can be given after 36 weeks but it may be less effective.
Shingles
A shingles vaccine is available on the market, but it is not given routinely in Ireland. The vaccine is not available through the medical card or drug payment schemes. Speak to your GP if you would like more information about the vaccine.
Tetanus
Tetanus is a painful, often fatal disease. Bacteria found in the soil or manure release a toxin and cause painful muscle spasms and lockjaw. The effects spread causing convulsions, breathing difficulties and abnormal heart rhythms.
Bacteria from the soil or manure enter the body through open cuts and burns. The wound may be as small or as insignificant as a pinprick. Tetanus is not contagious (not spread from person to person). People get tetanus from the environment and not from other people.
Tetanus is prevented by vaccination.
Tetanus vaccine is given to children as part of the 6 in 1 vaccine at 2, 4 and 6 months of age.
The 6 in 1 vaccine protects against Diphtheria, Hepatitis B, Hib (haemophilus influenzae b) Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Polio and Tetanus.
A booster vaccine dose is given at 4-5 years of age (4 in 1 vaccine) which protects against Diphtheria, Pertussis (Whooping Cough), Polio and Tetanus.
Another booster dose is given in 1st year of second level school (Tdap vaccine) which protects against Diphtheria, Pertussis (Whooping Cough) and Tetanus.
If you or your child requires vaccination, or you are unsure of you or your child’s vaccination status, contact your GP for advice.
