Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Bríd Smith for her question. When I received the question, it alarmed me because it suggested something that should not be happening. As a result, I asked for it be looked into.

The flu vaccine is free for all healthcare workers working in our public and voluntary hospitals and to all healthcare workers delivering front-line services. It is also available free of charge to all students on clinical placement. Students can access it in local occupational health clinics, vaccination clinics staffed by their peers or at their local GP or pharmacy. My Department and the HSE are not aware of a situation where students on clinical placements have been charged to receive the vaccine. If the Deputy is aware of individual cases where this has occurred, I want to tell her categorically that it should not have happened. If she would like to revert to me with any individual cases, I guarantee her that they will be followed up.

This year, given the potential for the winter flu season to coincide with a resurgence of Covid infections, and the importance of minimising hospital attendance, the Government expanded the provision of vaccination without charge to all of those in the HSE defined as being at-risk groups, including healthcare workers. The amount of vaccine made available for this winter is almost double the amount of vaccine administered last winter. Healthcare workers are at an increased risk of getting flu. They also have the potential to spread the flu by virtue of their contact with patients. Likewise, they can prevent the spread of flu by getting the vaccine. It is recommended, therefore, that everyone working in a healthcare setting should get the flu vaccine. This includes medical, nursing and allied health students, including those working in residential disability services.

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