17
JUN
2022

HSE Partner Pack 17th June 2022

Posted By :
Comments : 0

Thank you for your continuing support in helping to share information about important health service updates and COVID-19. Our highlight communications updates for you this week are:

 

Health Service Updates

 

HSE urges more people to get their COVID-19 vaccine or booster

The HSE is urging those who are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine or a booster and who have not yet received it to get their vaccine. This is particularly important given the recent increase in the numbers of confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Dr Colm Henry, HSE Chief Clinical Officer, said: “While there was a reduction in the incidence of COVID-19 infection in recent months, we have seen a sharp increase in cases and hospitalisations in recent weeks.  This rise may be attributable in part to emerging variants of Omicron, which can evade immunity from either natural infection with a previous variant or vaccination. Vaccination still affords protection from serious illness and many of those hospitalised did not receive their booster vaccine or did not receive a primary vaccination course.”

“The scale of vaccine uptake in Ireland, particularly last year, played a huge part in reducing the harm caused by COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccination is critical to ensure people are protected from serious illness, particularly those who are most vulnerable. I would again urge everyone who is eligible to get their vaccine.

“It is especially important that those who are 65 years or older, and those who are 12 years or older with a weak immune system who have yet to get their second booster vaccine, access the booster offered as soon as they can to ensure they are protected – particularly if we continue to see an increase in cases of COVID-19.”

While some vaccination centres around the country have closed or will shortly close, we are retaining 15 vaccination centres nationally to ensure that there is access to vaccination over the summer for anyone who requires it. The continuing involvement of many pharmacies in the COVID-19 vaccination programme will ensure that people can still easily access it and the public can check HSE.ie to find a participating pharmacy nearest to them.

For the remainder of June, we encourage anyone who has yet to get their COVID-19 vaccine to book an appointment online at HSE.ie or ring HSELive on 1800 700 700 to book an appointment in a HSE vaccination centre. Participating GPs and Pharmacists will also continue to provide vaccination.

Details on how to book a COVID-19 vaccine can be found here and information on the vaccine is available at www.hse.ie

 

mychild.ie infant mental health videos

The HSE’s mychild.ie website, in partnership with Tusla, has published a series of 10 practical videos about infant mental health for parents, guardians and those working with young children across Ireland. The videos feature advice from HSE experts in child psychology about how babies develop socially and emotionally, as well as parents talking about their own experiences. You can watch the videos on mychild.ie here.

Tips for parents to reduce treats

The HSE, safefood and Healthy Ireland are encouraging families to go easy on the treats and offering expert tips to help. Parents and guardians told us they want advice on how to talk to children and others about it, and about how to give children less treats. There are expert tips, healthy snack options and social media resources available at makeastart.ie

 

My Health My Language

A video series called “My Health, My Language” aims to give migrants and international protection applicants information on healthcare in Ireland. Presented by healthcare workers who live and work in Ireland but moved here from abroad, the videos cover 11 health topics in a range of languages including Ukrainian, French, Romanian, Spanish, Arabic, Irish, Russian, Polish, and Portuguese (Brazil). More languages will follow with the official launch of the series at the end of June.

Health service information for Ukrainian nationals

Disability services information for Ukrainian nationals

Information on disability services and supports for people from Ukraine is now available in Ukrainian, Russian and English.

Our National Disability Operations team and Disability Umbrella Organisations are supporting people with disabilities arriving to Ireland from Ukraine.

Find information on disability supports for Ukrainian nationals here.

Vaccination programme in Ireland: Information for Ukrainian nationals

In this video available here, Dr Oksana Kozdoba a Pediatrician from Ukraine shares information about the vaccination programme in Ireland. She covers the vaccines offered in Ireland to protect babies, school children and adults.

 

Information on ‘Getting Healthcare in Ireland’ for Ukrainian nationals

New online content ‘Getting Healthcare in Ireland’ is now available to read in both Ukrainian and Russian languages on the HSE website.

It includes information about:

  • Where to get help when you’re unwell
  • Contraception
  • Pregnancy
  • Vaccines
  • Information on other common health topics

We will continue to update information in English, Ukrainian and Russian languages.

You can find more information here.

Mental health supports for people from Ukraine

Information on mental health supports for people from Ukraine is now available in Ukrainian, Russian and English on www.hse.ie/Ukraine.

People arriving from Ukraine have access to a wide range of mental health supports and services. In addition to information resources, mental health promotion and self-help options, more formalised, person-centred services are also delivered by the HSE and partner organisations, and through GP and primary care services.

Information on healthcare services for Ukrainian nationals: Ukrainian and Russian language resources available

COVID-19 information for Ukrainian nationals arriving in Ireland is now available to read in both Ukrainian and Russian languages on www.hse.ie/Ukraine. Other recent updates include how to apply for a medical card and links to bi-lingual medical card forms. We will continue to update information in English, Ukrainian and Russian languages.

 

COVID-19 Updates

 

COVID-19 leaflet to support people with a weak immune system

We have published an information leaflet on Living with COVID-19 if you have a weak immune system, which is available to download in English and Irish. Some people may have a weak immune system because they have a health condition or are getting treatment for a health condition.

If you have a weak immune system

People aged 12 years and older who have a weak immune system previously had one additional dose of vaccine, and were also offered a first booster dose earlier in 2022. The HSE is issuing SMS reminders to people in this group as their second boosters become due. Clinicians will also be identifying people who have become immunocompromised recently to be added to this group.

For more information on specific conditions or treatments, please find details here.

People aged 65 years and over reminded to get second COVID-19 booster vaccine

The HSE is reminding all those aged 65 years and over that they can avail of their second COVID-19 booster vaccine. Those with a weak immune system aged 12 and over can also get their second booster, when it is due.

Those who are now due their second COVID-19 booster vaccine can:

This second booster will give you the best protection from serious illness caused by COVID-19.

Interval between first and second booster

If you are 65 or over or 12 years and older with a weak immune system, you should get your second booster at least 4 months (at least 120 days) after your first booster. You can check the date of your last booster on your digital COVID-19 certificate.

If you have had COVID-19 in the last 4 months

You should get your second booster dose at least 4 months after your positive test result or when your symptoms started

Going to the vaccination centre

Please bring a photo ID with you. Examples of ID include passport, driver’s licence, Garda age card, student/school ID etc. but if your ID does not include your date of birth, please bring proof of your date of birth (e.g. your birth cert).

What vaccine will I get?

If you are 30 years or older you will be offered a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID 19 vaccine at the HSE vaccination centres, GPs and Pharmacies. If you are 29 years or younger we will offer you a single dose of the Pfizer vaccine. These are mRNA vaccines. NIAC has recommended people are given an mRNA vaccine for this second booster dose, and it is safe to receive if you previously had a different vaccine.

If you have not had your first booster yet

Everyone aged 12 and over can still get their first booster, and are invited to come forward and book an appointment at a HSE vaccination centre. You can find more information here.

Video explaining second booster

You can watch this video with Dr Eimear Hayes, Senior Medical Officer from the HSE National Immunisation Office. In the video Dr Hayes answers questions about the second booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for people aged 12 and older who have a weak immune system and those aged 65 and older, and explains their recommended COVID-19 vaccination course. Information about the recommended vaccine schedule for COVID-19 is available from the National Immunisation Office Website.

Stay safe

COVID-19 is still with us. These are important things that we can all keep doing to help reduce infection:

  • isolate if you are symptomatic (even if you are fully vaccinated and boosted) or if you are diagnosed with COVID-19
  • complete your primary and booster programme of vaccination
  • continue to manage risk for yourself and others who are more vulnerable. You can do this by wearing masks, physical distancing and avoiding crowds as well as maintaining basic hand and respiratory hygiene

Treatment for people at the highest risk from COVID-19

New medicines are available to treat people with COVID-19 (coronavirus) who are at the highest risk of becoming seriously ill.

You can find more information about treatments and higher risk groups here.

COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 years
If your child is aged 5 to 11 you can 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.

COVID-19 Vaccination Programme

You can find the latest information on vaccines administered here.

COVID-19 Testing 

Full details of are available here.

COVID-19 information in other languages

Visit hse.ie/translations for a range of COVID-19 vaccine information videos and resources that have been produced in other languages, including information on COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy.

Information videos on COVID-19 vaccination for parents of children aged 5-11 are available here.

 

Animated videos for children about COVID-19 vaccination 

Animated videos for children are now available in English, Irish, Irish Sign Language and 11 other languages. The videos are intended as resources for parents, guardians or care workers to use to talk about the child’s COVID-19 vaccine and the process of being vaccinated with them.

The videos are also available in Arabic, Czech, Dari, French, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Urdu, and Yoruba and you can see all of the videos here.

 

Upcoming Event & Funding Opportunity

 

Tobacco Free Campus – Quality Improvement Bursary

The Tobacco Free Ireland Programme has launched a Quality Improvement Bursary for 2022/2023. Any Section 38 organisation, Section 39 organisation or HSE service could be awarded up to €5,000 for improvements in Tobacco Free Campus (TFC) policy implementation. The deadline for applications is Thursday 30 June 2022. You can find more information here.

 

‘The Art of Being Healthy and Well’ Symposium – virtual event

HSE Health and Wellbeing, working in partnership with Creative Ireland and the Arts Council, would like to invite to this upcoming Symposium on Wednesday 22nd June (10–12:40). You can register for the event here: https://bit.ly/3PLntDl

 

Public Health Information

For updated information and advice on Coronavirus, please go to: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/covid19/ and https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/. Clinical and professional guidance relating to COVID-19 is available on www.hpsc.ie where you’ll find up to date guidance for healthcare settings and non-clinical settings.

Please check here for 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).

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.

 

Many thanks and best wishes,

Kahlil & Sandra

COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement, HSE Communications

About the Author

Leave a Reply