THE HSE is urging people in at-risk groups in Clare to get vaccinated against influenza as the flu season starts.
According to Dr Anna Clarke, consultant in public health medicine at the HSE National Immunisation Office, the flu vaccine prevents hospitalisations and deaths. Dr Clarke said the best protection against flu is the vaccine.
“All people in risk groups should get the vaccine if they have not gotten it already. As the vaccine takes two weeks to work, the HSE is urging people to get the vaccine now.
“The flu vaccine is a lifesaver because flu can be a very serious and sometimes deadly disease, with potentially in Ireland during a severe flu season.
“National uptake figures show that 54% of people aged 65 and over, who hold a medical card or GP visit card, received the flu vaccine during the 2016-2017 flu season.
“This uptake rate is on a par with the 2015-2016 flu season,” she said.
However, it is less than the World Health Organisation target of 75%.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.