More to receive flu vaccine this year in response to Covid threat

By Michael McHugh, PA

Thousands of extra people are to receive the flu vaccination in Northern Ireland.

The programme is being expanded to help protect the vulnerable and relieve winter pressures during the Covid-19 pandemic.

It will begin in September and will include household contacts of those who received shielding letters, staff in independent care homes and school children in the first year of secondary school from September.

Subject to availability, the programme may be extended by December to include those in the 50 to 64-year-old age group, starting with the oldest first.

Health minister Robin Swann said: “Given there is currently no vaccine to combat Covid-19, it is extremely important that we take all necessary measures to help reduce the risk of the flu circulating alongside Covid-19 during autumn and winter.

Robin Swann

“I have asked my department to increase the availability of the flu vaccine this year to additional groups of people in an effort to reduce health risks in individuals and reduce the pressure on our health and social care system.”

Chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride said flu can present with similar symptoms to Covid-19 and could complicate the contact tracing and surveillance programme.

He said: “There is also emerging evidence that co-infection with Covid-19 and flu may lead to a more severe illness.

“Reducing the pressure caused by seasonal flu will help preserve the capacity of the health and social care system to manage any future waves of Covid-19.”

The current groups eligible for a free flu vaccination are everyone aged 65 and over, pregnant women, those aged under 65 in clinical at-risk groups, all children aged two to four, all primary school pupils, and frontline health and social care workers.