Flu Vaccine at Northgate Surgery

Where can I get the Flu Vaccine?

You can attend a Centric Health GP Practice for your flu vaccine even if you are not a patient of the practice.  To book online, choose your preferred GP practice location, and click the 'book online' button.  If you are already a patient of a Centric Health practice, please attend your practice as your vaccine can then be recorded in your medical records. 

Do I need a Flu Jab?

Flu is highly contagious, typically from October to April in Ireland. It can make you very ill.
You are in an at-risk group if you:

• are 60 years of age and over
•  are 2 to 17 years old
• are pregnant
• have a long-term medical condition, for example, a heart, lung, kidney or neurological disease, or cancer
• have a weak immune system,  for instance, if you have diabetes or are having chemotherapy
• are obese and have a body mass index (BMI) of over 40
• are a child with a moderate to severe neurodevelopmental disorder such as cerebral palsy
• were born with Down syndrome.

Free Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine for kids age 2 to 17 

The HSE (since December 2023) is providing the flu vaccine to all 2 to 17-year-olds free of charge at their GP Practice, parents & guardians can book children using the 'Book Online' button in their chosen GP practice. 
 

Must I get the Flu Vaccine again?

The flu virus mutates every year, which is why a new vaccine is being developed every year. A flu vaccination gives you and those around you the best chance of avoiding becoming ill.  
In Ireland, the HSE currently provides FREE flu vaccines to:
-   over 65s
-   children aged two to 17 (nasal spray – no needles!)
-   healthcare workers
-   pregnant people
- high-risk people
-   people in a nursing home or long-term care facility
-   carers of at-risk people
-   housemates of at-risk people
-   those in regular contact with poultry or pigs.

Book your appointment as soon as possible, as there is usually high demand.  Vaccines are available from October onwards.

Does the Flu Vaccine hurt?

We know no one likes injections, but our highly skilled healthcare teams are trained to minimise any discomfort, honest!  And children and teenagers get a nasal spray, so no needles for them at all!
The jab itself takes seconds, but we do ask all our brave flu vaccine patients to stay with us for 15 minutes afterwards, just to make sure you don't have any nasty reaction. This rarely occurs but we like to look after you.

I want a Flu Vaccine

Our 'Book Online' buttons are the fastest way to book your vaccine appointment. Please note you can only book an appointment if you are on a GP practice page, so pick your GP Practice location first and you will see a 'book online' button at the top right corner of the page.

Since some patients do have an adverse reaction to vaccines, we would ask all our patients to come to us for flu vaccines – we are equipped to look after you if needed. We also advise all our patients to attend their GP practice for their vaccine so that we can record the vaccination details in their medical records.

Resources

HSE guidelines on the Flu Vaccine 

HSE Patient information leaflet 2024