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Speech & Language Support for Parents
Two free HSE resources are now available to support your child’s early communication:
📞 Phone Advice Clinic — A free 20-minute call with a speech and language therapist, for parents in Finglas, Cabra, Blakestown and Blanchardstown. Runs monthly, 9.30am–12.30pm. Booking required — see numbers below. (Not for children already referred to CDNT/CAMHS.)
🎥 “Learning to Talk” YouTube Series — Short videos from HSE, TÚSLA and BBC Start Right Limerick covering understanding, play, talking and speech, including tips for stammering and reluctant speakers. Search “HSE Learning to Talk Playlist” on YouTube or scan the QR code below.
💬 Parent Workshops: Supporting Your Child’s Communication
Worried about your child’s speech, language or communication development? 💚
The Dublin West Primary Care Speech & Language Therapy Service offers online interactive workshops for parents of preschool and school-age children.
The workshops provide practical tips, useful resources and advice to help support your child’s communication skills. 🗣️✨
📧 Book by email: lucan.slt@hse.ie
📞 If you can’t attend, you can also contact the SLT department to arrange a one-to-one phone consultation.
Save this post or share it with another parent who might find it useful! 💚
Survivorship Programmes Nationally -
September Calendar
What is seasonal influenza (flu)?
Influenza (flu) is a very infectious illness caused by the flu virus. The virus infects the airways and the lungs.
Flu circulates in the community during the flu season. The flu season usually starts at the beginning of October and lasts until the end of April.
Can flu cause serious illness?
Yes, the flu can cause serious illness and life-threatening complications including pneumonia, bronchitis and, on rare occasions, inflammation of the brain (encephalitis).
Flu also can make chronic health problems worse.
Some people are more at risk of these serious complications including people aged 60 and older, pregnant women, and people with an underlying health condition such as diabetes, chronic lung disease or a weak immune system.
What is the difference between a cold and the flu?
A cold usually comes on gradually with a sore throat and a blocked or runny nose and its symptoms are usually mild.
Flu symptoms start suddenly with fever, muscle aches, headaches and extreme tiredness (fatigue).
What is the flu vaccine?
A vaccine is a product that helps the body’s immune system (defence system) to fight against infections. Each year the flu viruses change, so each year the flu vaccine changes to provide protection against the strains of flu virus that are expected to spread during the flu season.
How does the flu vaccine work?
The flu vaccine helps your immune system to produce antibodies (proteins that fight infection). If you have had the flu vaccine and you come into contact with the flu virus, the vaccine can stop you from getting sick.
Who should get the flu vaccine
We recommend the flu vaccine for:
- People aged 60 years and over
- Children aged 2-17 years (please read HSE leaflet on flu vaccine for children)
- Pregnant women (please read HSE leaflet on flu vaccine for pregnancy)
- People (adults and children) with long-term medical conditions that increase the risk of complications from flu such as diabetes, chronic heart conditions, liver conditions, kidney conditions and chronic lung disease including COPD, or neurological diseases
- People with cancer
- Children on long-term aspirin treatment
- People whose immune system is impaired due to disease or treatment
- People who are obese who have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 and over
- People with Down syndrome and children with moderate to severe neurodevelopmental disorders
- Residents of nursing homes and other long-stay institutions
- Healthcare workers
- Carers
- People who live in the same house as someone who is at risk of flu because of a medical condition
- People with regular close contact with poultry, water fowl or pigs.
When should I get the flu vaccine?
You should get your flu vaccine every year as soon as it is available. By getting the flu vaccine at the start of the flu season, before flu begins to spread, you can protect yourself and you can help to stop the spread of flu infection.
Why do I need the flu vaccine every year?
Each year the circulating flu viruses change, so each year the composition of the flu vaccine changes to provide protection against the strains of flu virus that are expected to spread during the flu season.
What flu vaccines are available this flu season?
The 2026-2027 HSE seasonal flu vaccination programme will offer four vaccines:
- An adjuvanted (enhanced) flu vaccine called Fluad supplied by Seqirus for all those aged 65 years and older
- Standard inactivated flu vaccines called Influvac supplied by Viatris, or Vaxigrip supplied by Sanofi for:
- All adults aged 60-64 years
- Children aged 6 months to less than 2 years and adults aged 18-59 years with a condition that increases the risk of complications from flu
- A nasal spray influenza vaccine called Fluenz supplied by AstraZeneca for all children aged 2-17 years.
Why do people aged 60 years and over need the flu vaccine?
People aged 60 years and over are more at risk of severe illness, hospitalisation or death from flu. The flu vaccine gives the best available protection against the serious complications of flu.
What vaccine is recommended for people aged 65 years and older?
The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) recommend the adjuvanted (enhanced) flu vaccine for all those aged 65 years and older. This enhanced flu vaccine is called Fluad.
Why is the enhanced flu vaccine recommended for everyone aged 65 years and older?
If you are 65 and older you are at higher risk of serious illness from flu. As we get older our immune system may not respond as well to vaccines. The enhanced vaccine is designed to help your immune system respond better to give you stronger protection against flu.
What makes the Fluad flu vaccine enhanced?
The enhanced flu vaccine (Fluad) is an adjuvanted vaccine.
Adjuvanted vaccines contain an extra ingredient called an ‘adjuvant’, that increases the immune response, compared with standard vaccines. Adjuvants have been used safely in vaccines for many years.
The adjuvant used in Fluad is MF59, which contains squalene, a naturally occurring substance found in humans, plants and animals.
What vaccine is recommended for everyone under 65 years of age?
- All children aged 2 years to 17 years are recommended the nasal flu vaccine (Fluenz), unless there is a reason they cannot have this vaccine.
- The standard inactivated flu vaccine is recommended for everyone else who is recommended a flu vaccine under the age of 65 years.
Why do pregnant women need the flu vaccine?
If you are pregnant you can get seriously unwell with flu infection. Getting the flu vaccine will give you and your baby the best available protection against the serious complications of flu.
If you are pregnant, please read the HSE flu leaflet for pregnant women.
How safe is the flu vaccine?
The flu vaccine is very safe. Flu vaccines have been given for more than 60 years to millions of people worldwide.
What are the side effects of the vaccine?
Common side effects are mild. After the flu vaccine you may get side effects including soreness, redness and swelling where the injection was given. Headaches, muscle pains and tiredness can also develop. These side effects may last for a few days. People who get the enhanced flu vaccine may have more of the mild side effects, such as redness at the injection site, a sore arm, or muscle aches.
For all flu vaccines, serious reactions are very rare; a severe allergic reaction occurs in one in a million people.
Can the flu vaccine give me the flu?
No. The flu vaccine can’t give you the flu.
How long does it take the vaccine to work?
The vaccine starts to work within two weeks.
Who should not get the flu vaccine?
You should not get the flu vaccine if you have had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of flu vaccine or any part of the vaccine.
People on combination checkpoint inhibitors (e.g. ipilimumab plus nivolumab), should speak to their treating specialist doctor before getting the flu vaccine.
Some people with a severe type of chemotherapy induced neutropoenia (low levels of a type of white blood cell) may need to wait to have the flu vaccine and should talk to their doctor.
What about people with egg allergy?
Most people with an egg allergy can have a flu vaccine. Talk to your GP (Doctor) or Pharmacist.
When should you delay getting the flu vaccine?
There are very few reasons why getting the flu vaccine should be delayed. You may have to delay getting the flu vaccine if you are unwell – with a high temperature of more than 38°C – until you are better.
Where do I get the flu vaccine if I am in one of the groups for whom the vaccine is recommended?
You can get the flu vaccine from your GP (Doctor) or Pharmacist.
If you are a healthcare worker, your workplace may provide the vaccine at work. Please read the HSE leaflet on the flu vaccine for healthcare workers.
What does the flu vaccine cost?
If the flu vaccine is recommended for you, then the vaccine and the consultation with your GP (Doctor) or Pharmacist are free.
Please make an appointment with your GP (Doctor) or Pharmacist now to get vaccinated and give yourself the best available protection against flu this winter.
What is seasonal influenza (flu)?
Flu is a very infectious illness caused by the influenza virus. The virus infects the airways and the lungs.
Flu circulates in the community during the flu season. The flu season usually starts at the beginning of October and lasts until the end of April.
Can flu cause serious illness?
Yes, flu can cause serious illness and can be life threatening for pregnant women.
Pregnancy increases the risk of complications from flu infection because of changes in how the heart, lungs and immune system work during pregnancy. Complications of flu include pneumonia, bronchitis, and, on rare occasions, inflammation of the brain (encephalitis). The flu vaccine is very safe in pregnancy.
What is the flu vaccine?
A vaccine is a product that helps the body’s immune system (defence system) to fight against infections. Each year, the flu viruses change, so each year the flu vaccine changes to provide protection against the strains of flu virus that are expected to spread during the flu season.
Why do I need to get the flu vaccine if I am pregnant during the flu season?
As you are pregnant, you have a higher risk of severe complications if you get flu. The flu vaccine gives you the best available protection against flu during your pregnancy, and it can also provide protection to your newborn baby during their first few months of life.
At what stage of pregnancy should I get the flu vaccine?
If you are pregnant during the flu season, you should get the flu vaccine.
Flu vaccine can be given at any stage of pregnancy, but the sooner you get it, the sooner you are protected.
I was pregnant at the end of the last flu season and received the flu vaccine then. I am still pregnant, so should I receive flu vaccine now?
Yes. The flu vaccine for this flu season is different from last season’s vaccine and this vaccine will now give you the best available protection against the flu strains (types) that are expected to spread during the flu season.
How does the flu vaccine work?
The flu vaccine helps your immune system to produce antibodies (proteins that fight infection) to the flu virus. If you have had the flu vaccine and you come into contact with the flu virus, the vaccine can stop you from getting sick.
How long does it take the vaccine to work?
The vaccine starts to work within two weeks.
Is it safe for me to be vaccinated?
Yes. The vaccine is very safe in pregnancy. Flu vaccines have been given to pregnant women for over 50 years. The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) recommend the flu vaccine for all pregnant women in every pregnancy during the flu season. Getting the flu vaccine gives you and your baby the
best available protection against the serious complications of flu infection.
Who should not get the flu vaccine?
You should not get the flu vaccine if you have had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of flu vaccine or any part of the vaccine.
People with severe neutropenia (low levels of a type of white blood cell) should speak to their GP or treating specialist doctor before getting a flu vaccine.
People on combination checkpoint inhibitors (e.g. ipilimumab plus nivolumab), should speak to their treating specialist doctor before getting the flu vaccine.
What about people with egg allergy?
Most people with an egg allergy can have a flu vaccine. Talk to your GP (Doctor) or Pharmacist.
When should you delay getting the vaccine?
There are very few reasons why you should delay getting the vaccine. However, you should re-schedule your vaccine appointment if you are unwell with a fever (temperature) greater than 38°C.
Talk to your GP (Doctor) or Pharmacist about the best time to reschedule your appointment.
Can the flu vaccine give me the flu?
No. The flu vaccine can’t give you the flu.
What are the side effects of the flu vaccine?
Common side effects are mild. They may include soreness, redness and swelling where the injection was given.
Headaches, muscle pains and tiredness can also develop. These side effects may last for a few days.
Serious reactions are very rare; a severe allergic reaction occurs in one in a million people.
What if I don’t feel well after flu vaccination?
If you have a temperature after the vaccine, you can take paracetamol. It is safe to take when you are pregnant and it helps you and your baby avoid getting a fever.
Do not take ibuprofen or aspirin to treat a temperature after vaccination.
Remember: If you are unwell after getting a vaccine, it could be for some other reason. Don’t assume it is because of the flu vaccine.
If you have a temperature ring your GP (Doctor) for medical advice.
What is flu?
Influenza (flu) is a very infectious illness caused by the flu virus. Flu spreads easily and infects both children and adults.
Flu circulates in the community during the flu season. The flu season usually starts at the beginning of October and lasts until the end of April.
How does flu affect children?
Children are more likely than adults to get severe complications of flu.
Children who are sick with flu miss days in crèche, childcare and school. They also miss out on their usual activities such as hobbies and sports.
Over the last 10 years in Ireland:
• Over 10,000 children were hospitalised because of flu
• Over 200 needed intensive care (ICU)
• Sadly 22 children died
Can flu cause serious illness in children?
Yes. Complications of flu include pneumonia, bronchitis, and, on rare occasions, inflammation of the brain (encephalitis).
Children with chronic health conditions are most at risk of the serious complications of flu.
How will the flu vaccine protect my child?
The flu vaccine helps your child’s immune system to produce antibodies (proteins that fight infection).
If your child has had the flu vaccine and they come into contact with the flu virus, the vaccine can stop them from getting sick.
If my child gets the flu vaccine, are other people protected?
If your child gets the flu vaccine, it reduces the spread of flu to others. This helps protect people around them from flu, for example their brothers and sisters, parents and grandparents.
If enough children are vaccinated fewer people will get flu or will need treatment in hospital. This is very important for our population’s health and our health services, especially during the winter.
What is the name of the flu vaccine for children?
The flu vaccine for children is called Fluenz manufactured by AstraZeneca.
The flu vaccine for children has been given to children in the UK since 2013 and Ireland since 2020.
How is the vaccine given?
Your vaccinator will give the vaccine as a spray up your child’s nose (nasal vaccine). They will spray once in each nostril. There is no need for an injection and it’s pain free.
Your child can breathe normally while getting the vaccine. There is no need to take a deep breath or sniff.
Some children who have chronic health conditions like chronic heart or lung conditions may need two doses, given four weeks apart.
Are there any children who should not get the nasal flu vaccine?
A very small number of children will not be able to get the nasal flu vaccine because of medical reasons.
Children or young people should not get the vaccine if they:
• have had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of the flu vaccine or any of its ingredients
• have severe asthma or if they have been wheezy or needed their inhaler more than usual in the three days before the vaccination. If your child has severe asthma (for example if they have regularly needed oral (by mouth) steroids or have needed to go to ICU before because of asthma) you should discuss the nasal flu vaccine with their
specialist team/respiratory doctor or nurse
• are taking medicines called salicylates, which include Aspirin
• have a severely weakened immune system because of certain medical conditions or treatments
• are living with someone who has a severely weakened immune system (for example, a person who recently had a bone marrow transplant)
• have taken antiviral medication for flu within the previous 48 hours
• have a condition which means they have a leak of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) - the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord
• are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Talk to your doctor before getting the nasal flu vaccine for your child if they have had a cochlear implant, your child has a severe neutropoenia (low levels of a type of white blood cell) or are taking two medicines called combination checkpoint inhibitors (for example, ipilimumab plus nivolumab) which are used to treat cancer.
Some children with inherited metabolic disorders may not be able to get the nasal flu vaccine. If your child has an inherited metabolic disorder talk to their doctor about whether your child should get the nasal flu vaccine.
If your child cannot get the flu vaccine using a nasal spray (nose spray), your GP (Doctor) or pharmacist will talk to you about giving your child a different flu vaccine, which is given by injection.
Is the nasal flu vaccine a live vaccine?
Yes, the nasal flu vaccine is a live vaccine. This means that it contains a very weakened form of the flu virus which does not spread or cause flu infection. Getting the flu vaccine can stop your child from getting the flu and gives them the best available protection from the complications of flu infection.
Can the nasal flu vaccine give you the flu?
No. The nasal flu vaccine will not give your child the flu.
Because the nasal flu vaccine is a live vaccine, children may release a tiny amount of the weakened vaccine virus for a few days. This vaccine virus is much weaker than the regular flu virus. It will not cause your child to get the flu. Spread of the weakened vaccine virus to others is extremely rare and has not been shown to cause flu illness in others.
Are there any side effects of the nasal flu vaccine?
The flu vaccine is a very safe vaccine.
The most common side effects are mild. They include a runny or blocked nose, headache and muscle aches. Some children get a fever (temperature) after the vaccine, but it is usually mild and goes away on its own.
Serious side effects such as a severe allergic reaction are very rare.
What if my child doesn’t feel well after vaccination?
If your child has a fever (temperature) or a headache, you can give them paracetamol or ibuprofen. Do not give Aspirin or medicines called salicylates to children, unless they have been prescribed by a doctor. This is especially important in the 4 weeks after getting the vaccine.
Talk to your GP (Doctor) or pharmacist if your child is very unwell after the vaccine, as it may be for some other reason.
My child is allergic to eggs. Can they get the nasal flu vaccine?
Yes. Most children with an egg allergy can have a flu vaccine. Talk to your GP (Doctor), pharmacist or vaccinator.
My child has asthma. Can they get the nasal flu vaccine?
Yes. Most children with asthma can get the flu vaccine.
Your child should not get the nasal flu vaccine if they have severe asthma or if they have been wheezy or needed their inhaler more than usual in the 3 days before the vaccination.
If your child has regularly needed oral steroids or previously needed to go to ICU for care for their asthma, you should discuss the nasal flu vaccine with their specialist team/respiratory doctor or nurse.
Talk to your GP (Doctor) or pharmacist.
My child is under 2 years of age; can they get the nasal flu vaccine?
No. The nasal flu vaccine can only be given to children from their second birthday.
If your child has a chronic health condition which means that they are at risk from flu, they can get a different flu vaccine which is given by injection.
Talk to your GP (Doctor) or pharmacist.
My child is 18 years or older; can they get the nasal flu vaccine?
No. If your child has a chronic health condition which means that they are at higher risk from flu, they can get a different flu vaccine which is given by injection.
Talk to your GP (Doctor) or pharmacist
Where can I get the nasal flu vaccine for my child?
You can get the nasal flu vaccine from your GP (Doctor) or pharmacist.
Some children may be offered the nasal flu vaccine in school, by HSE teams, GP’s or Pharmacists.
What does the nasal flu vaccine cost?
If your child is aged 2-17 years, the vaccine and the consultation with your GP (Doctor) or pharmacist are free.
