- GPs urge the public to get vaccinated against winter flu to protect the vulnerable this Christmas season.
- Higher than usual rate of hospitalisations and deaths heralds a difficult clinical winter ahead.
- Very young babies and older people with weak immune systems are at most risk.
The Irish College of GPs is the professional body for general practice in Ireland. The College is the representative organisation for education, training and standards in general practice, with 4,600 members and associates comprising over 85% of practicing GPs in the Republic of Ireland and 1,292 GPs in training.
Today (Monday, December 1st), GPs urged the public to get their winter flu vaccine now to ensure protection for themselves and vulnerable family members this Christmas season, as a highly transmissible and severe variant is spreading fast.
Dr Scott Walkin, the Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control Clinical Lead with the Irish College of GPs, said: “We are seeing the winter flu outbreak several weeks earlier this year, which means that the peak will coincide with the Christmas and New Year holidays. Those age groups who are most likely to get the flu are those under 1 year, 1-4 year olds, and elderly people with underlying medical problems.”
He added: “The winter flu season has arrived several weeks earlier this year, with a highly virulent new strain called H3N2 subclade K. H3 flu tends to be more severe than other types. Already, even though the season is just starting, seven people have died, and admissions to hospitals have increased by 50% between week 46 and week 47.”
Dr Walkin said: “The current flu vaccine provides good protection against severe disease. The vaccine is effective within two weeks of getting it, so it’s really important to get the vaccine now to ensure it doesn’t ruin your Christmas or someone else’s.”
The flu vaccine is available from GPs and pharmacies and is free to those aged 60 or older, aged from 2 – 17, and if you are a healthcare worker or pregnant.
Media interviews available on request.
ISSUED BY: Aileen O’Meara, Communications Consultant, Irish College of GPs. Tel. 01 2542984/ 087 2239830
Email: media@icgp.ie