Flu is a very serious illness – there can be potentially 1,000 flu related deaths in Ireland during a severe flu season. The HSE recommends that the following groups of at-risk people should be vaccinated against seasonal influenza:
Everyone aged 65 years and over
Anyone over six months of age with a long term illness requiring regular medical follow-up such as chronic lung disease, chronic heart disease, diabetes or those with lower immunity due to disease or treatment
Pregnant women
Residents of nursing homes and other long stay facilities
Healthcare workers
In addition to seasonal flu vaccination, some people in the at-risk groups may also need pneumococcal vaccine which is available from GPs. Pneumococcal vaccine is not required every year – most people only need to get it once, so those at risk should check with their GP.
The HSE provides the flu and pneumococcal vaccine free of charge for all those in the at-risk groups. The vaccine and consultation are free for people with a medical card or GP visit card. People who do not have a medical card or GP visit card will be charged a consultation fee.
Those aged 18 years or older in the at risk groups may attend either their GP or pharmacist for vaccination and people under 18 should go to their GP.
Visit the HSE’s dedicated immunisation website – immunisation.ie – to find out more about the annual flu vaccination and the pneumococcal vaccine.
I am backing @IrishCancerSoc #BreastCheck campaign. I raised this issue earlier this year and will continue to fully support the campaign.
Today the Irish Cancer Society were at Leinster House calling on the Government to extend BreastCheck to women aged 65-69.
In 2011 the government promised to extend BreastCheck, this has not happened.
The extension will mean an additional 87 women’s lives a year will be saved through screening.
For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 1st July, 2014.
* 590. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the extension of BreastCheck to the 65-69 age group; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
– Seamus Healy T.D.
For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 1st July, 2014.
REPLY.
The BreastCheck Programme provides free mammograms to all women aged 50-64. A priority of the BreastCheck Programme at present is to maximise national uptake in the 50-64 year age cohort.
It is my intention to extend the upper age range to include the 65-69 age cohort as soon as possible in line with available resources.
Workers & Unemployed Action 