HSE to offer Flu vaccine to children at pop-up clinic in Limerick

SCOIL Carmel in Limerick city will undergo a transformation once again this week as the HSE has announced a free walk-in Flu vaccination centre will open on its grounds with Limerick parents being encouraged to bring their children.

After previously facilitating the administering of Covid-19 vaccinations, the school complex will be used this Thursday and next Thursday to administer Flu vaccines at the pop-up centre.

The former secondary school will be open from 3pm to 7pm each day to facilitate children, aged from 2 to 17, in getting vaccinated without the need for an appointment.

The vaccine for children is in the form of a simple nasal spray and, according to the HSE, it is a "very safe and effective" vaccine that helps children's immune system to produce antibodies that fight infection.

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The opening of the pop-up vaccination centre is part of the response to the current rise in flu cases in children, as well as the
significant number of children who have been hospitalised in Limerick and across the county with Flu this winter.

Dr Aparna Keegan, Specialist in Public Health Medicine and Flu Lead a the HSE National Immunisation Office has moved to allay any fear that parents might have.

“It cannot give your child the Flu. If your child has had the Flu vaccine and they come into contact with the Flu virus, these antibodies will help them fight the Flu and reduce the risk of getting sick or needing to go to hospital,” she said.