The following groups are eligible for the 2024/25 HSE free flu vaccine:

• All children aged 2-17 years at the time of vaccination

• Persons aged 60 and older

• Pregnant women (at any stage of pregnancy)

• Those aged 6 to 23 months and aged 13-59 years with:

  • Chronic heart disease including acute coronary syndrome

  • Chronic liver disease

  • Chronic neurological disease including multiple sclerosis, hereditary and degenerative disorders of the central nervous system

  • Chronic renal failure

  • Cancer patients

  • Chronic respiratory disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, moderate or severe asthma or bronchopulmonary dysplasia

  • Diabetes mellitus

  • Down Syndrome

  • Haemoglobinopathies

  • Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment, including asplenia or splenic dysfunction and cancer patients

  • Morbid obesity, i.e. body mass index of 40 or over

  • On long-term aspirin therapy (because of the risk of Reyes syndrome) 

  • With any condition (e.g. cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injury, seizure disorder, or other neuromuscular disorder) that can compromise respiratory function especially those attending special schools/day centres

  • With moderate to severe neurodevelopmental disorders such as cerebral palsy and intellectual disability

• Health and Care workers including all General Practice and pharmacy staff

• Residents of nursing homes and other long stay institutions

• Carers and household contacts of people with increased medical risk**

• People with regular contact with pigs, poultry or water fowl

**Only household contacts or carers of people who have an underlying chronic health condition or have Down syndrome are eligible to receive an influenza vaccine. A carer is described as someone who is providing an ongoing significant level of care to a person who is in need of care in the home due to illness or disability or frailty e.g. those in receipt of a carer’s allowance. Household contacts of people aged 65 years and older (who do not also have a chronic health condition), pregnant women, children aged 2-17 years or if healthcare workers or carers are not recommended the influenza vaccine.