Ms Phil Ní Sheaghdha:

There are two things. One is that the statistics we have, and the HSE has accepted this, only reflect those who have been provided with the vaccine in the public sector. As such, we do not know if people go to their GP or get the vaccine elsewhere. It is our view that the figure is much higher than that and if we measure across the healthcare worker grades, public and private, it is higher. The simple point is the flu vaccination is promoted strongly by the INMO and it is our policy to promote it. We have also agreed that to promote uptake our members will participate in ensuring that healthcare staff do not have to travel to get the vaccine and will get it as close to their workplace as possible. That has proven positive.