The proportion of healthcare workers who received the flu vaccine during 2024 was the lowest in seven years, with uptake declining “sharply” since the Covid pandemic, new figures show.
There was a rise in influenza last winter, with more than 23,000 cases notified to health officials between October and the end of February – an increase of 9,000 when compared to the same period in the previous year.
An increase in respiratory illnesses during the winter season typically puts pressure on the hospital system, leading to patients waiting on trolleys, and increased deaths. There were almost 200 deaths associated with flu during the last winter season.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has published the results of its annual survey on flu vaccine uptake among workers in residential homes and hospitals.
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Data from 50 hospitals showed 45.4 per cent of healthcare workers received the jab last year, continuing a steady decline since uptake peaked at 71 per cent during the 2020/2021 winter period during the Covid pandemic.
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The last time uptake was this low among hospital healthcare staff was in 2017/2018, the HPSC data shows.
The HSE Dublin and South East region reported the highest vaccine uptake at 57.2 per cent, while the West and North West region had the lowest at 34 per cent.
University Hospital Waterford reported a seasonal influenza vaccine uptake of 72.8 per cent, significantly above the average, while Letterkenny University Hospital had an uptake rate of 17.2 per cent.
The proportion of residential care staff who received the flu jab was much lower than those in hospitals.
One third (33 per cent) of healthcare workers in residential care settings received the vaccine, which has “declined sharply” from its peak of 66.3 per cent in the 2021/2022 season, the HPSC said.
The Midwest region reported the highest vaccine uptake at 58 per cent, while the West and North West region reported the lowest at 26 per cent.
Uptake was highest among medical and dental staff, and lowest among health and social care professionals.
The flu season in Ireland typically begins in October and ends in April, with the prevalence of the virus increasing around December and January.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) offers free flu vaccines to a range of people most at risk from severe illness.
This includes those aged 60 or older, children aged between 2 and 17, healthcare workers, those who are pregnant, individuals living in a nursing home or long-term care facility, those who work with poultry, and those who have, live or care for a person with a health condition.
