Health Minister Urges Public to Get Flu Vaccine Amid Severe Strain

The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, has made a strong appeal for the public to get vaccinated against the flu, citing a particularly severe strain that is impacting children. During an interview on RTÉ Radio on December 3, 2025, she emphasized that adults aged 18 to 59 who are not in at-risk groups will not receive the vaccine for free.

The flu virus currently circulating has been described as “very severe,” with a notable impact on children under 15 years of age. “Children’s Health Ireland typically reports no children on trolleys, but that is not the case now, and this situation is a direct consequence of the virus,” said MacNeill.

Vaccination is available at no cost for children aged 0 to 17, individuals aged 60 and older, pregnant women, those with underlying health conditions, and health workers. Despite a slight increase in vaccination uptake among children—from 17 percent last year to 21 percent this year—MacNeill expressed concern that some batches of the nasal spray vaccine have expired due to low demand. “The nasal vaccination has a 14-week expiry date. Some of it has expired, but we have additional supplies that will not expire until January or February, with more available in the coming weeks,” she noted.

For children in areas where the nasal vaccine is unavailable, injections are an alternative. Recent figures indicate that three quarters of individuals hospitalized due to flu had not received the vaccine. “I am asking everybody who can to go and get vaccinated. It takes about 10 days to be effective, but this flu season is expected to peak over Christmas and extend into January,” MacNeill added.

In response to a call from the Labour Party for the vaccine to be free for all, which costs between €30 and €35 for adults outside of vulnerable groups, the Minister explained the need to balance resources. “We have to take every year the best approach, maximizing resources for the most vulnerable. If we make it free for everyone, there are other services we cannot provide. That is the balance we must strike,” she stated.

The uptake among healthcare workers, currently at just 29 percent, remains a significant concern for MacNeill, who noted the target for this group is 75 percent. “We are making it available for free to healthcare workers and providing on-site clinics for vaccinations. We encourage them to get vaccinated for their own health and to help reduce the risk of transmission,” she urged.

To alleviate pressure on hospitals, MacNeill announced that General Practitioners (GPs) are being funded to extend their opening hours specifically for respiratory conditions. Hospitals are also implementing weekend discharges to manage patient flow more effectively. “Currently, there are 180 people on trolleys across 29 hospitals, which is a very good situation for this time of year, especially during flu season. This time last year, that number was 600 people,” she said, attributing the improvement to the dedication of healthcare professionals.

As the flu season progresses, the Minister’s appeal highlights the importance of vaccination and the need for public awareness in mitigating the impact of this severe flu strain.