Flu Vaccination Service 2026/2027

StayWell Pharmacy Seasonal Flu Vaccination Service 2026/2027

Protect yourself and your loved ones from seasonal flu with our convenient and professional StayWell Pharmacy Flu Vaccination Service. Getting vaccinated each year is the most effective way to prevent influenza and its complications, as the virus changes each year.

Booking Your 2026/2027 Flu Vaccine

Our booking system for the 2026/2027 flu season is now open.

Current Vaccine Availability

Flu vaccinations under the HSE Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme 2026/2027 are currently being offered to:

• Adults aged 65 years and over: The enhanced flu vaccine injection, Fluad.
• Children aged 2 to 17 years: The nasal spray flu vaccine, Fluenz, where suitable. Children who cannot receive the nasal spray can receive a suitable injectable flu vaccine following assessment by their pharmacist or GP.
• Adults aged 60 to 64, and adults aged 18 to 59 in HSE-eligible groups: The standard flu vaccine injection, Vaxigrip or Influvac. Eligible groups include pregnant women, people with certain health conditions, healthcare workers, and carers or household contacts of people at increased risk from flu. Please see the full eligibility section below.

Private (paid) flu vaccinations are not available at this time. Please see the Private Flu Vaccination Service section below.

How to Book

Click the “Book Now” button for the service that applies to you to book an appointment or join a waitlist at selected StayWell Pharmacies. If your pharmacy does not offer online booking, please call or visit directly. Some pharmacies also offer walk-in appointments, subject to availability.

If you join a waitlist, your pharmacy will contact you when an appointment is available for the vaccine you need.

*Please note:  Appointments are subject to vaccine availability, pharmacist availability, and eligibility criteria. Registering your interest does not guarantee a vaccination. Available at selected Staywell Pharmacies only.

Vaccines Available This Season

For the 2026/2027 season, the HSE programme will use the following trivalent vaccines:

• Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV): A pain-free nasal spray offered to most children aged 2-17 years. The brand available is Fluenz.
• Inactivated Influenza Injectable Vaccine (IIV): An injectable vaccine for adults aged 60 to 64, adults aged 18 to 59 in HSE-eligible groups, and children who cannot receive the nasal spray. Available brands include Vaxigrip and Influvac. Eligible children aged 6 months to under 2 years should receive their vaccine from their GP.
• Enhanced Influenza Injectable Vaccine (aIIV): For everyone aged 65 years and over. The brand is Fluad. It contains an added ingredient, called an adjuvant, that helps older immune systems build a stronger response to the vaccine.

Who Should Get the Seasonal Flu Vaccine?

Flu can be severe for people aged 60 and over, pregnant women, and anyone with certain long-term medical conditions. The HSE strongly recommends a free flu vaccine for these at-risk groups, including:

• People aged 60 and over.
• Children aged 2 to 17 years.
• Pregnant women (at any stage of pregnancy).
• Healthcare workers.
• People aged 18 and over living in long-term care facilities for older adults, or other long-stay facilities where flu could spread rapidly
• Carers for, or people who live with, someone who has a health condition that puts them at higher risk of flu.
• People in regular close contact with pigs, poultry, or waterfowl.
• Anyone aged 6 months or older with an eligible health condition.

Eligible Health Conditions

People with one or more of the following health conditions are strongly recommended to get the free flu vaccine:

• Cancer.
• Chronic heart disease, including acute coronary syndrome.
• Chronic liver disease.
• Chronic kidney disease.
• Chronic respiratory disease, including COPD, cystic fibrosis, moderate or severe asthma, or bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
• Chronic neurological disease, including multiple sclerosis, hereditary and degenerative disorders of the central nervous system.
• Diabetes and other metabolic disorders, including inherited metabolic disorders.
• Down syndrome.
• Haemoglobinopathies (e.g., sickle cell disease).
• A Body Mass Index (BMI) over 40kg/m2 or over
• Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment, including asplenia or hyposplenism.
• Serious mental health conditions.
• Children with a moderate to severe neurodevelopmental disorder such as cerebral palsy.
• Children on long-term aspirin therapy.
• Any condition that can compromise respiratory function (e.g., spinal cord injury, seizure disorder), especially for those attending special schools or day centres.

This list is not exhaustive. If you have another health condition and are not sure whether you are eligible, please talk to your pharmacist or GP.

Private Flu Vaccination Service

Supply difficulties have affected the availability of standard flu vaccine injections this season. Available supplies are being prioritised for the HSE vaccination programme.

We cannot offer private (paid) flu vaccinations at this time.

Please speak to your StayWell Pharmacy team to check whether you are eligible for a free HSE flu vaccine. We will update this page as further information becomes available.

Thank you for your understanding.

Who Should NOT Get the Flu Vaccine Injection?

Please speak to your pharmacist or GP before vaccination if you:

• Have ever had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of flu vaccine or any of its ingredients. This is a contraindication to receiving the vaccine.
• Have a severe egg allergy that required admission to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). You may require a specialist assessment before vaccination.
• Are taking combination checkpoint inhibitors for cancer treatment (e.g., ipilimumab plus nivolumab), as this requires discussion with your specialist.
• Have neutropenia (a low level of a type of white blood cell) or are receiving chemotherapy. Your specialist may need to review the timing and choice of vaccine.
• Are unwell with a high temperature (38°C or above). Vaccination should be postponed until you have recovered.

Who Should NOT Receive the Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine (LAIV)?

The nasal spray vaccine is not suitable for all children. It should not be given to a child who:

• Is under 2 years of age.
• Has had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous flu vaccine or its ingredients.
• Has severe asthma or has had increased wheezing or required their inhaler more than usual in the last 72 hours.
• If your child has severe asthma, takes regular steroid tablets or has previously needed intensive care for asthma, seek specialist advice before they receive the nasal spray vaccine.
• Has a severely weakened immune system due to disease or treatment.
• Lives with someone who is severely immunocompromised and requires protective isolation, for example following a bone marrow transplant.
• Is taking medicines called salicylates, which include Aspirin.
• Has taken antiviral medication for flu within the previous 48 hours.
• Has a condition causing a leak of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
• Is pregnant.

If your child has a cochlear implant, consult with their specialist before receiving the nasal vaccine.

Most children with an egg allergy can have the nasal spray. Children who have needed intensive care for a severe allergic reaction to egg need a hospital specialist assessment.

If the nasal vaccine is unsuitable, your StayWell Pharmacist will discuss the injectable flu vaccine and its availability with you.

When Should You Delay Getting the Flu Vaccine?

You may need to delay the flu vaccine if you have a high temperature (38°C or above). Wait until you are better before getting vaccinated.

If your child has taken antiviral medication for flu in the past 48 hours, or had an asthma flare-up in the past 72 hours, please contact the pharmacy before their appointment.

Your Vaccination Appointment

Before you arrive:

• For the injectable vaccine, please wear a loose-fitting top that allows easy access to your upper arm.
• Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who can give consent. Young people aged 16 and 17 can consent for themselves.
• Please complete the online consent questionnaire when booking. This saves time in the pharmacy on the day.

During your appointment:

• Your appointment will last approximately 15 minutes.
• After vaccination, you will be asked to remain in the pharmacy for at least 15 minutes. Some people may need 30 minutes of observation; your pharmacist will advise you. Our pharmacists are trained to manage rare allergic reactions.

After your vaccination:

• You will receive a Vaccine Record Card with details of your vaccination.
• With your consent, we will record your vaccination details on the HSE's central IT system to update your immunisation record.

Side Effects of the Flu Vaccine

Most people have no side effects. When they do occur, they are usually mild and temporary.

• Nasal Spray (LAIV): The most common side effects include a runny or blocked nose, headache, and muscle aches. A mild fever may also occur but usually resolves on its own.
• Injection (IIV): You may experience temporary soreness, redness, or swelling at the injection site. A mild headache, fever, and muscle aches can also occur within 6-12 hours and last up to 48 hours.
• Enhanced Injection (aIIV): Because it contains an adjuvant, pain or tenderness at the injection site, tiredness, headache and muscle or joint aches are a little more common than with the standard injection. They are usually mild and settle within 3 days

If needed, you can take paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve these symptoms.

Do not give aspirin or salicylate-containing medicines to a child for 4 weeks after the nasal spray vaccine, unless prescribed by a doctor.

Where Can I Get More Information?

For further details, please visit the official HSE website, speak with your StayWell Pharmacist or visit our FAQs

• HSE Information on the Flu Vaccine: www.hse.ie/flu
• Patient Information Leaflet:
  • Influvac
  • Vaxigrip
  • Fluenz nasal spray
  • Fluad