The HSE has ordered extra supplies of flu vaccine this year in the hope that more healthcare workers, as well as more people in so-called at-risk groups, will avail of it.
The vaccine has now been delivered to GP surgeries across the State and next week the HSE will begin a national advertising campaign to encourage people to avail of it.
The HSE said yesterday it had procured 700,000 doses of vaccine this year, up from 625,000 doses ordered last season.
Almost all the stock has already arrived here, in contrast to the UK where there were delays in receiving supplies.
Dr Brenda Corcoran, a specialist in public health medicine with the HSE's national immunisation office, said it was very important for all those aged over 65 to get the vaccine as well as young people with chronic illness such as chronic heart disease or diabetes. Residents in nursing homes and healthcare staff, including carers who have direct patient contact, should also avail of it.
All these at-risk groups can avail of the vaccine free. Medical card holders and those with doctor visit cards will not have to pay for administration of the vaccine but non-medical card holders usually have to pay their GP for giving them the jab.
Dr Corcoran said the strains of flu virus circulating varied from year to year and each year a new vaccine was manufactured to counteract the strains most likely to be in circulation that year. These are determined by the World Health Organisation.
"So it is very important that you get this year's vaccine," she said. "Flu is a very serious illness. It is highly infectious and can lead to significant illness, especially among at-risk groups," Dr Corcoran warned.
She stressed the vaccine did not give people the flu.
In several countries the flu vaccine is offered to all those over 50 years of age and next year it is expected it will be offered free of charge to all those over 60 years in the State, rather than only over 65s as is the case at present. The national immunisation advisory committee has been discussing lowering this age range.