Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) is encouraging families to shield their children from flu as emergency departments continue to face exceptionally heavy attendance levels.
On Monday, CHI Emergency Departments and Urgent Care Centres treated 650 children, most of whom presented with flu-type symptoms such as fever, coughing, sore throat and breathing problems, reports Breaking News.
Although flu can usually be handled at home, CHI noted that infants and children with existing medical issues are more vulnerable to serious illness and some may need hospital care.
Dr Patrick Fitzpatrick, a consultant in Emergency Medicine who works mainly in CHI at Temple Street, said: “The rise in flu among children over the last week has been significant. The children’s flu vaccine is free, safe, and still available. It’s not too late to protect your family”, reports Breaking News.
The HSE offers a free flu vaccine for all children aged 2–17, which is given as a fast and painless nasal spray.
Families can receive the vaccine through participating GPs and pharmacies, reports Breaking News.
Dr Fitzpatrick said: “Flu spreads quickly through households, schools, and crèches. Not to mention, it can easily ruin Christmas for families. We strongly encourage parents and guardians to consider vaccination now to reduce the risk of severe illness and to help ease the growing pressure on our Emergency Departments,” reports Breaking News.
For more information on the children’s flu vaccine, including how and where to get it, visit hse.ie/flu.
Information on how to treat flu symptoms can also be found at hse.ie/flu, reports Breaking News.
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