Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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1087. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to provide the seasonal influenza vaccine to persons employed in schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1797/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The decision to provide seasonal flu vaccine to persons employed in schools would be a matter for the Department of Education and Skills to make. The primary focus of giving the flu vaccine is to increase vaccination rates among healthcare workers and among at risk groups (i.e. long stay residents, 65+ years, pregnant women) so as to reduce and control the incidence of flu and outbreaks in the community and healthcare settings. I encourage all those in at risk groups to get the vaccine now (if they have not already done so) as it can take up to 2 weeks to work. The vaccine will help to reduce the risk of flu, reduce hospitalisation and reduce mortality rates.