Vaccination
A detailed Frequency Asked Questions (FAQs) guide in relation to influenza vaccination is available in the
downloads section of this website. In addition, the latest advice for health professionals on Pandemic H1N1
vaccination from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee, Royal College of Physicians in Ireland, is also
available on the downloads section.
The HSE have purchased vaccines from two different companies (Baxter Health Care & Glaxo SmithKline).
The Baxter vaccine does not contain egg products and thus is suitable for persons with egg allergy.
These have been licensed for adults by the European Medicines Evaluation Agency.
Initially frontline healthcare staff, children, persons over 65, and adults at higher risk from influenza
are being offered vaccination by HSE. Vaccination will then be offered to the general adult population
including Civil Service employees.
The vaccine comes in 10 dose vials, and once made up into individual doses needs to be used within a short
period of time. Unlike ordinary seasonal influenza vaccine, it does not come in a preloaded individual dose
syringe. Thus, it needs to given to groups of people at one time in order to avoid wasting vaccine supplies,
and is time consuming to administer. It is expected that this vaccine will offer a high degree of immunity
against Influenza H1N1.
As more information becomes available, it will be posted on this website.
The following FAQs may be of help to staff
Is The H1N1 Vaccine Safe?
The H1N1 vaccine works in the same way as the seasonal influenza vaccine, which has been around for several
decades. All the evidence to date is that apart from transient local arm irritation/pain, its safety profile
is the same as the regular seasonal influenza vaccine.
I Get The Flu Vaccine Every Year. Do I Still Need to Receive the Seasonal Influenza Vaccine This Year?
Yes, if you are in one of the high risk population groups that receive the seasonal influenza vaccine every
year, you still need to receive the seasonal vaccine this year. The seasonal vaccine can be given at the same
time as the pandemic influenza vaccine if necessary.
I Believe I Have Already Had Swine Flu. Do I Still Need To Be Vaccinated Against Swine Flu?
Yes, unless you have had laboratory confirmed swine flu, you do still require the swine flu vaccine. This is
because it is not possible to clinically distinguish between swine flu and seasonal flu.
Are There Some People Who Should Not Receive the Swine Flu Vaccination?
People with a severe (life-threatening) allergy to eggs or to any other components of the vaccine, bleeding
disorders or a history of Guillain Barre Syndrome should talk to their doctor who can advise them further.