MORE 2,000 vaccines have been delivered so far this winter by the HSE Mid West Health and Wellbeing Immunisation Team to people in care.
The team has has been administering flu and Covid vaccines to residents of nursing homes and long term-care facilities across the entire region.
While opting for vaccination is a voluntary matter, the uptake rate for the flu vaccine among residents of these facilities has reached approximately 88 per cent. The programme, which runs from September to February, has so far delivered a total of 2008 flu vaccinations.
Niamh O’Connor, clinical nurse manager at HSE Mid West Health and Wellbeing, said that at a time when hospitalisations from flu are dramatically increasing, the programme was especially important for protecting those who are more vulnerable.
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Vaccinator Nora Mullane describes the significant clinical and administration work involved in the programme.
“There has been an excellent response from residents of the facilities. There is also the option for someone to be able to refuse. But we encourage people to take it because of the risk of developing flu or Covid, and the uptake in most nursing homes is up around 88 per cent,” Nora explained.
A typical day for Nora begins around 8am, with collection of the vaccines and ensuring they have been stored and packed at the correct temperature.
“We go to nursing homes, long term care facilities and in some instances people’s homes where these people have been deemed house-bound.
“We observe the residents for 15 minutes post-vaccination for any adverse reactions to the vaccine We never leave the nursing home until a half-hour after the final vaccination,” Nora explains.
Flu vaccines are available now at participating GP clinics and pharmacies. For healthcare workers, free flu vaccines are available in staff vaccination clinics and in the community in GPs and Pharmacies. Additionally all children aged two to 17 years are recommended to get the free flu vaccine.