Over the following 10 days, it is anticipated that the number of hospitalised flu patients would nearly double, reports RTE.
According to a senior HSE spokesman, hospital flu cases might reach 800-900 over the last week of the year, with January seeing the highest number.
According to HSE Clinical Director Dr. Colm Henry, there are 155 RSV patients and over 525 flu patients in the hospital, reports RTE.
According to him, it is putting more strain on the hospital system.
“The real driver for increased activity and pressure throughout our healthcare system, not just on hospitals, is the rise in flu cases and we expect this to continue to rise until the end of the year at the very earliest,” reports RTE.
According to past years, he added, the number of cases is anticipated to keep increasing and peaking when adults start working again in January and kids start going back to school.
Dr. Henry reminded everyone that it is still possible to receive the flu vaccination, which can lower the number of individuals who may contract the sickness and will take effect two weeks after administration, reports RTE.
He stated that a high of 800-900 flu-related hospitalisations will occur at the end of the year, but that January will likely see a rise in the strain on hospitals and primary care settings.
He stated that because emergency departments are already under a lot of strain, the HSE has been planning and preparing, reports RTE.
According to an emergency care specialist, hospitals will face significant challenges in the upcoming weeks when the flu season peaks.
According to Dr. Emily O’Conor, who was interviewed by Brendan O’Connor on RTÉ, “we are looking at it hitting us in the next two weeks, which from the point of view of hospitals and GPs; they are difficult times of the year, staffing wise etc to actually accommodate a flu peak,” reports RTE.
Dr. O’Conor said there was some positive news with the introduction of the RSV vaccination for babies, which began this year.
She stated that it has “changed this bronchiolitis season; there has been a huge reduction in the numbers of babies being admitted to hospital with bronchiolitis”, reports RTE.
According to Dr. O’Conor, “significant numbers of babies being required for oxygen and feeding because of bronchiolitis” would have existed in the past.
According to Dr. Colm Henry, there have been 35 RSV hospitalisations this year compared to over 500 last year, and there have been 73 RSV cases so far this year compared to over 800 last year, reports RTE.
Only seven instances of the virus have been brought to the intensive care unit this year, compared to 70 cases last year.
“Remarkable impact of the campaign” to vaccinate newborns against RSV, he claimed, was the reason for this.
According to the head of the drugstore union, getting the flu shot is “crucial,” reports RTE.
Flu shots will be “readily available” at pharmacies nationwide for the next two days.
People may call in advance to schedule a flu vaccine appointment, according to the president of the Irish Pharmacy Union, reports RTE.
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