HSE Covid-19 Partner Pack: 25th February 2022
We hope this message finds you well.
Thank you for your continuing support in helping to share information about COVID-19 and important health service updates.
COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 years
If your child is aged 5 to 11 you can now book their COVID-19 vaccine appointment online at a time and date that suits you. The vaccine will help to protect them, and the rest of the family too. The World Health Organization has advised that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe for children of this age. Visit hse.ie for information or to book an appointment.
New video explaining the additional dose and booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for people who have a weak immune system
In this video Dr Eimear Hayes, Senior Medical Officer from the HSE National Immunisation Office answers questions about the additional dose and booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for people who have a weak immune system.
COVID-19 booster (4th) dose for people who are immunocompromised (have a weak immune system)
People who have a weak immune system, also called immunocompromised, can now get a booster (4th) dose. People in this group were offered an additional dose of the COVID-19 vaccine last year, and can now get a booster dose if it has been 3 months since their additional dose. If they had the Pfizer, AstraZeneca or Moderna vaccine, this booster will be their fourth vaccine dose. If they had Janssen vaccine this booster will be their third vaccine dose. See below for information on how to get your booster dose.
You can find more information here.
Treatment for people at the highest risk from COVID-19
A new medicine is available to treat people with COVID-19 (coronavirus) who are at the highest risk of becoming seriously ill. Sotrovimab is also known by the brand name Xevudy. It is the first type of COVID-19 medicine available in Ireland. You’ll be told by your doctor or consultant if this medicine is for you. Other COVID-19 medicines are expected to become available soon.
You can find more information here.
COVID-19 vaccine booster
People aged 16 and older can get their COVID-19 vaccine booster dose now. This includes people who have a weak immune system. To book an appointment or find a clinic near you, visit hse.ie.
You need to wait at least 3 months (90 days) after your vaccine course before you can get a booster dose. If you have had COVID-19 since you were vaccinated you should get your booster dose at least 3 months after your positive result.
Please bring photo ID that shows your date of birth to your appointment or walk-in clinic.
Vaccination clinics
We continue to operate clinics for dose 1 and dose 2 vaccinations (for people aged 12 years and over), and booster vaccine clinics. Find the full list of clinics by county here. You can also check @HSELive on Twitter for daily updates.
All of our vaccination centres are offering online booking for booster appointments, which can be booked up to 5 days in advance. You can find more information here.
COVID-19 Testing
Full details of how to get tested are available here.
COVID-19 Vaccination Programme
You can find the latest information on vaccines administered here.
COVID-19 information in other languages
Visit hse.ie/translations for a range of COVID-19 vaccine information videos and other resources that have been produced in other languages, including information on COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy.
Where to find COVID-19 Vaccination Information
We encourage everyone to read about the COVID-19 vaccine and to get their information from a factual, trusted source – here are the links to the pages with information on the vaccine:
- Check here for information about the vaccine, information on this page is updated regularly
- Find the vaccine information materials at hse.ie/covid19vaccinematerials
- Details on COVID-19 vaccines administered are available here
- Read the full COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy
- Read the National Immunisation Advisory Committee Chapter about COVID-19 vaccine
- COVID-19 vaccine information for health professionals
- Information in Irish Sign Language: information resources on the COVID-19 vaccines in Irish Sign Language are available here
- COVID-19 vaccines easy read and accessible information formats are available here
- Translated resources are available here
Public Health Measures
You can find information on public health measures here.
National No Smoking Day Webinar – Forward Thinking in Tobacco Control, Wednesday March 2nd
The HSE Health and Wellbeing Tobacco Free Ireland (TFI) Programme are hosting a webinar to mark National No Smoking Day on Wednesday next, 2nd March. The webinar takes place from 12-1pm. You can register using this link and please encourage your colleagues and partners to sign up also: https://bit.ly/3oXXrkn
Learn about the next steps and innovative ways to make Ireland a tobacco free society by 2025. The ultimate goal is to have a smoking prevalence of less than 5% by 2025 and this webinar will feature some leading Irish physicians and policy makers who are working toward achieving this goal, along with the HSE staff who guide and support people on their quitting journey.
Winter pressure on our health service
A range of factors including the impact of winter and the high numbers in hospital and attending Emergency Departments (ED) are leading to a very high demand on both hospital and community services. In line with the HSE Winter Plan, a number of measures are being taken to manage this period of high demand.
The HSE is asking members of the public to consider all care options before attending hospital EDs, as acute and community services face a period of unprecedented pressure. There are a range of care pathways available to patients who do not need emergency care including Pharmacists, GP, GP Out of Hours Services and Minor Injury Units. Within EDs, patients will be prioritised based on their clinical need.
Applications are now being invited by the HSE for National Lottery Funding Grants
This funding is distributed by the HSE each year to community-based groups and voluntary organisations under the Respite Care Grant Scheme and the National Lottery Grant Scheme.
Groups and organisations involved in the provision of Health and Personal Social Services can apply for once-off funding of between €500 and €10,000 for suitable projects.
Click here for more information including the application form.
The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Wednesday 23rd March 2022. Applicants will be advised as to the outcome of their application by 8th July 2022.
Free flu vaccine for at-risk groups
It’s flu season and while anyone can catch the flu, some people are more at risk of catching the flu, getting seriously ill or needing hospital treatment. The is still time for some at-risk groups to get the flu vaccine including people aged 50 or over, pregnant women, people with certain long term conditions and healthcare workers. The HSE encourages these at-risk groups to make an appointment with their GP or Pharmacist for their free flu vaccine. It’s the best way to be protected from the flu. Find a participating pharmacy.
Public Health Information
For updated information and advice on Coronavirus, please go to: https://www2.hse.ie/
Please check here for the most up to date partner resources for COVID-19.
You can find translated resources here.
You can find the COVID-19 A-Z information here from the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).
Please also check the Healthy Ireland site here with further resources and information on the Keep Well campaign.
You can view the latest information on how Ireland is responding to cases of COVID-19 here.
Ireland’s COVID-19 Data Hub is available here.
If your organisation has any requests in relation to COVID-19 public health information materials, please reply directly to this email to let us know.
Many thanks and best wishes,
COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement, HSE Communications