Dec 09
22
Swine Flu vaccinations not available until after Christmas
The HSE has notified the public that the Swine Flu Vaccination Clinics in Sligo, Carrick-on-Shannon in Leitrim and Letterkenny in Donegal will be closed from 4 p.m. today, 22nd December, until 10 a.m. Monday, 4th January, 2010.
The HSE is continuing to urge those at risk, those over 65 and children to get the swine flu vaccine. Rates among children are still extremely high, so it is important that we work to offer the vaccine to all children over the coming weeks and months. Children remain at higher risk of hospitalisation and complications from swine flu. Getting the vaccine protects a child from swine flu, and it also protects the people around them. Information packs are being distributed to schools, including consent forms for parents/guardians.
Children under 6 months of age cannot be given the vaccine but their household family members (i.e. other children, parents, grandparents, au pairs etc.) should get the vaccine at the local clinics which will help protect these children.
Initially, when vaccinating the first at-risk group, it was possible to accommodate walk-in visits to our clinics. Now that we have moved on to the next groups, and clinics become busier overall, we are moving to an appointment only system.
When people get their invitation letter, appointments may be made on line at www.swineflu.ie or by phoning the booking line numbers that are provided in invitation letters. If people book online, we will ask them to bring their invitation letters to the clinic when they come for their vaccine.
We would ask parents and older people to be patient and wait until they receive their letter before proceeding to make a booking. This is to help ensure that the clinics are not oversubscribed and to provide a comfortable environment for all clients and staff. It also helps to ensure that those in the first at-risk group, who are still being vaccinated, do not miss their chance to be protected.
The HSE in the process of vaccinating schoolchildren in their schools, and would encourage people to demonstrate patience and wait for school vaccination rather than coming to the vaccination clinics.
