The Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, is urging all health workers and other people at risk to get the flu vaccine.

According to the Minister, it is not too late to get vaccinated and there are 250,000 doses of the vaccine in storage ready to be used.

Last week, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) confirmed an increase in influenza-like illness (ILI), with rates increasing from 11.3 per 100,000 people to 48.5 per 100,000 during the first week of January.

These figures mean that flu ‘is actively circulating in the community' and the illness is expected to increase over the coming weeks, circulating for at least another six to eight weeks.

The flu vaccine is available free of charge for people in at-risk groups, although if you do not have a medical card or GP Visit card, you may be charged an administration fee. Those considered at risk are:
-People over the age of 65
-People with chronic diseases that require regular check-ups, such as chronic heart disease, chronic lung disease and diabetes
-Anyone with reduced immunity as a result of an illness or treatment for an illness
-All pregnant women
-Morbidly obese people, i.e. those with a body mass index of more than 40
-Residents of long-stay facilities, such as nursing homes
-Healthcare workers and carers of people in at risk groups.

"In recent days more patients have been attending GP surgeries and hospitals with flu-like illnesses. The flu can make you very sick but the vaccine is a very effective way of preventing illness. Half a million people have been vaccinated already but we still have a quarter of a million doses," Minister Varadkar commented.

According to the HPSC, anyone who gets flu is advised to stay at home, rest, drink plenty of fluids and use over-the-counter products, such as paracetamol, to ease symptoms. Further advice is available here

The vaccine is available from GPs and pharmacies.