HSE offers COVID-19 bivalent booster to people aged 12-64 at high risk of serious illness
The HSE will be contacting people aged 12 to 64 years with a condition that puts them at high risk of serious illness from COVID-19 to offer them a third COVID-19 booster dose if the second booster they received was not a bivalent vaccine.
Bivalent vaccines were introduced to the vaccination programme on 3rd October 2022. If you are not sure which vaccine you had you can contact HSELive on 1800 700 700 for details.
Second COVID-19 booster vaccine offered to all 18-49 year olds
The HSE is inviting people aged 18-49 years to make an appointment for their second COVID-19 booster dose at www.hse.ie, with appointments available now.
The HSE is also urging everyone and especially healthcare workers, people aged over 50 and anyone over 12 with an underlying health condition or who are immunocompromised to check they are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccine boosters.
If you are not sure when you are due your vaccine booster you can contact HSElive on 1800 700 700 for details.
It is important to remember it can take up to 2 weeks to build up immunity once you get a booster.
You can find more information here.
Advice for people at higher risk from COVID-19
You should contact a doctor urgently if you are at higher risk and you have COVID-19 symptoms or you have a positive COVID-19 PCR or antigen test.
Some people who are at higher risk from COVID-19 may be recommended for treatments. If your doctor decides that treatment is right for you, you’ll start treatment as soon as possible. Treatment for COVID-19 is free of charge through the HSE if it is recommended for you.
If COVID-19 treatment is not recommended for you, your doctor will provide you with the care that is right for your condition and symptoms.
You can find more information here.
Advice for people at higher risk from COVID-19 press and social media campaign
A press and social media campaign is live providing information for people at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19. As well as providing advice on how to stay well this winter it reminds anyone at higher risk to visit their GP or doctor urgently if they have symptoms of COVID-19 or a positive test result.
A campaign partner pack is attached at the bottom of this message. We would be grateful if you would share the campaign messages with your networks.
Staying safe if you are at higher risk of COVID-19
The things you have been doing all along to protect your health will still work to keep you safer. You can find information on how to stay safe here.
Protect yourself and your family from common winter illnesses
There has been a significant rise in common winter illnesses like RSV, flu and COVID-19 this winter. This is also putting a lot of pressure on our health services. You can help prevent common winter illnesses by:
- Staying home if you are unwell (child or adult)
- Practicing good hand hygiene
- Covering coughs and sneezes
- Getting your recommended vaccines
Our guide to keeping well this winter contains advice for patients with chronic conditions. It also has information on how to manage common illnesses at home and advice about COVID-19.
RSV and flu in children
The flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are still circulating. Remember to keep children at home if they’re unwell, wash hands, cover coughs or sneezes and stay up to date with recommended vaccines. Please visit hse.ie/winter for advice on preventing and treating common illnesses in children, and when to get medical help.
COVID-19 vaccine resources
The HSE produces and regularly updates resources for the COVID-19 vaccine. You can visit the COVID-19 vaccine materials page for the latest leaflets and booklets including information on boosters and vaccines for children.
COVID-19 Testing
Details 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.
Health service updates and information:
Update on the Integrated Finance Management and Procurement System (IFMS)
IFMS will provide a single national finance management and procurement system for the entire health sector, including the HSE, Tusla, and section 38s and 39s. It will provide standard processes and a new operating model based on shared services.
IFMS will create benefits, including:
- Standardised national finance and procurement processes
- A strengthened financial control framework
- Less time spent processing financial transactions
- More detailed financial reporting
- More informed decisions about spending
The process of implementing IFMS has begun. The project is at the Build and Test stage in preparation for the first go-live in July 2023.
You can learn more about the IFMS project here.
National Lottery funding
The HSE has been allocated National Lottery funding for distribution, under the Respite Care Grant Scheme and the National Lottery Grant Scheme.
The HSE invites community groups and voluntary organisations providing health and personal social services to apply for once-off funding for suitable projects.
- Amounts available: €300 to €10,000
- Closing date: Friday, 17th February 2023 at noon
For more information and how to apply, visit www.hse.ie/lotterygrants or call HSELive on 1800 700 700.
World Cancer Day webinar
The Irish Cancer Prevention Network (ICPN) are hosting a free public webinar on 'Steps to reduce our cancer risk' ahead of World Cancer Day on Thursday, 2nd February 2023 from 1-2pm. Learn how we can all take action to reduce our cancer risk through a series of presentations and discussions with a panel of experts. Topics covered will be:
- Smoking tobacco/passive smoking
- Vaccinations
- Hormonal replacement therapy (HRT)
You can register for the webinar here.
If you are experiencing ongoing low mood, stress, anxiety or having trouble sleeping, and finding it difficult to shake them off, try some of our self-help resources available at www.yourmentalhealth.ie
The HSE is continuing a national advertising campaign on radio, social media, video and in train stations and bus stops during January. The HSE appreciates your support in sharing these resources with your own networks. You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Free Contraception
Since 1st January 2023, the free contraception service now includes 26 year olds. This service includes doctor appointments, prescriptions and contraception 17 to 26 year olds. Find out more about what types of contraception are covered, what costs are covered and how to access at www.sexualwellbeing.ie.
HSE National Policy for Consent in Health and Social Care Research
The HSE published the HSE National Policy for Consent in Health and Social Care Research on 20th December 2022. The policy outlines how to safely and ethically conduct the consenting process of health and social care research across the HSE and funded organisations. You can find more information here.
Injury Units
Injury units treat injuries that are not life-threatening. For example, broken bones, dislocations and burns. The waiting times at injury units are usually significantly less than at Emergency Departments (EDs) where staff need to prioritise treating acutely ill patients. See here for more information.
START campaign: register for free parenting webinar
The START campaign is encouraging parents and guardians to start healthy family habits with one daily win. For example, replace sugary breakfast cereal for a healthy one, introduce vegetables to dinner time, have fruit after school instead of treats, or drink water with meals. There are plenty of tips for families to help choose one small change, make a plan, and stick to it. Find advice at makeastart.ie or join the talk for parents on 7th February at 7pm.
Trauma Study: Informing policy & practice for trauma care by analysing the patient journey from incident to recovery
This study will combine the National Ambulance Service (NAS) electronic Patient Care Record (ePCR), and the Major Trauma Audit (MTA). This data will help healthcare professionals identify which hospital to bring trauma patients to. More information about the study is available on the website here.
If you were a trauma patient during 2020-2022 and wish know more about the study, how data will be processed or to withdraw your data from the study, please contact us at: TRAUMAStudy@rcsi.com
NAS recruitment campaign
The National Ambulance Service (NAS) launched a campaign last week to recruit for student paramedic roles. A radio ad is currently running across national and local stations, and social media ads will run until 5th February on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok. For more information about the campaign, please contact ciara.browne1@hse.ie.
Health service information for Ukrainian nationals
- Updated mental health supports information is here
- Disability services information is here
- Healthcare services information is here
- COVID-19 information is here
- COVID-19 vaccination video, 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.
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.
If your organisation has any requests in relation to COVID-19 public health information materials, please reply directly to this email to let us know.