THE NUMBER of people being hospitalised from flu in Limerick and the Mid West has almost doubled in the last week, as infection figures ramp up.
And the early arrival of the highly infectious virus has prompted the setting up of walk-in clinics for children and calls for everyone to avail of vaccines.
According to the latest data, released to the the Limerick Post, there were 179 flu cases and 82 hospitalised cases in the Mid West between November 30 and December 6.
By comparison, in the previous week (November 23 to 29) there were 123 flu cases and 51 hospitalised cases.
In the first week in November there were just six cases, rising to 30 the following week.
The HSE is opening four dedicated clinics for free, painless, nasal spray vaccines for children aged two to 17, two of them in Limerick.
Warning that flu can easily turn to pneumonia in young children and other vulnerable people, Dr Breda Cosgrove, consultant in public health medicine, said: “We are seeing a big rise in flu cases across Limerick, Clare, and Tipperary right now – numbers have doubled in the past week – and we are seeing more people including children be admitted to hospital with flu.”
“It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to work so as we head towards Christmas, we’re encouraging as many parents as possible to bring their children to these free walk-in clinics.
“Vaccinating your child will protect them against what can be a nasty illness in children and will also help protect more vulnerable family members such as grandparents and small babies,” she added.
The walk-in, free-of-charge vaccine clinics for children will be held in Limerick this Saturday (December 13) from 9.30am until 4pm at the Dooradoyle Health Centre (V94 A6RX) and on Thursday December 18 from noon to 6pm at Ballynanty Health Centre (V94 V280).
Children can also get a free flu vaccine at participating pharmacies and GP surgeries.
Adults are also being urged to get vaccinated and people entitled to a free vaccine include everyone aged 60 years and older, people with underlying medical conditions, pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy, healthcare workers, carers, and household contacts of people at higher risk, residents of nursing homes and other long-stay facilities, and people with regular close contact with poultry, waterfowl, or pigs.
For more information about the flu vaccine, including where to get it, visit hse.ie/flu.