HSE Partner Pack 16th December 2022

HSE reminds people to check when next COVID-19 booster due

The HSE is 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.

At this time of the year, people are making plans to travel, socialise and visit friends and family. This is all the more reason to get your booster and help protect those who may be more vulnerable to the disease. It is also 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.

What is my COVID-19 vaccination course?

You can download a visual guide on the recommended COVID-19 vaccination course for people living in Ireland here. 

RSV and flu in children

The HSE is seeing high numbers of children with winter viruses and infections, especially respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and flu. It’s important to keep unwell children at home and stay up to date on their recommended vaccines. Please use these winter virus resources to share advice with parents and guardians on preventing and treating children’s colds and coughs. Parents can also read more about Strep A infections here. 

Winter Vaccines Campaign

The HSE continues to urge people in Ireland to get their recommended winter vaccines for flu and COVID-19. You can view and share the TV ad here.  

This campaign brings flu and COVID-19 vaccines together for the people who need vaccines this winter – older people (this includes anyone aged 50+ who’s yet to get their COVID-19 booster, and people aged 65+ for their next COVID-19 booster and flu vaccine), healthcare workers, parents of children, people with long term conditions, and anyone who’s pregnant.

Both flu and COVID-19 vaccines are now available from participating GPs and Pharmacies and can be given at the same time. 15 vaccination centres across the country are also providing free COVID-19 vaccines. Please find more information at hse.ie

Children’s Nasal Flu Vaccine Campaign

The HSE also asks parents in Ireland to get children aged 2 to 17 vaccinated against the flu.

Flu cases are rising across all age groups in the past week, and especially in children under 14.

The children’s nasal spray flu vaccine is available free for all children aged 2 to 17. The vaccine is given as a spray in each nostril. It is not painful and is absorbed quickly. Your child’s vaccine is available from your GP or pharmacy.

You can find more information here.

COVID-19 and booster updates

People in the following groups who haven't had a second booster vaccine can now boost their protection:

• People aged 50 and older.
• People aged 12 or over with a long-term health condition like diabetes, asthma or heart disease. Please find the lists of health conditions here.
• Healthcare workers.
• Anyone who is at least 16 weeks pregnant. If you're pregnant and you haven't had a first booster, you can get this at any stage of your pregnancy.

Your next COVID-19 vaccine will help protect you from serious illness in the months ahead. This is because protection from previous vaccines or from COVID-19 infection, decreases over time.

If you've had COVID-19 recently, wait 4 months before booking your vaccine appointment.

Vaccines are also available from participating GPs and pharmacies.

For more up to date information or to book an appointment in a HSE vaccination centre, visit hse.ie or call our team in HSE Live on 1800 700 700.

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.

Stay safe

COVID-19 is still with us. These are important things that we can all keep doing to help reduce infection:

• Isolate if you are symptomatic (even if you are fully vaccinated and boosted) or if you are diagnosed with COVID-19
• If you have symptoms, stay at home until 48 hours after symptoms resolve
• Complete your primary and booster programme of vaccination
• Continue to manage risk for yourself and others who are more vulnerable. You can do this by wearing masks, physical distancing and avoiding crowds as well as maintaining basic hand and respiratory hygiene

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.

COVID-19 Testing 

Details are available here.

Paxlovid™ in Ireland

Paxlovid™ is an oral medication used to treat COVID-19. It can be used to treat people who are at highest risk and should be taken in the first 5 days of illness. Paxlovid™ may not be suitable for all patients, but it can be considered for:

• Vaccinated people aged 75 or over
• Vaccinated people aged 65 or over who also have additional risks including obesity (BMI over 35), diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease

If you have COVID-19 symptoms and are at higher risk, talk to your GP or hospital team. You can find more information 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:

New CEO of HSE
The HSE Board has today approved the appointment of Mr Bernard Gloster as Chief Executive of the HSE. Mr Gloster is currently Chief Executive of the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, and is expected to take up his new position in Spring 2023.

Advice on protecting your health in cold weather

As temperatures continue to fall below zero we have tips on staying warm, how to protect yourself and others from the freezing conditions, and where to look for help. Read our tips for cold weather. #BeWinterReady

HSE launches First National Genetics and Genomics Strategy for Ireland

On 13th December 2022, the HSE launched the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetic and Genomic Medicine in Ireland. The strategy outlines the planned development of an enhanced patient and family-centred genetic and genomic service that will be coordinated nationally.

The strategy was developed in collaboration with the Department of Health and healthcare professionals, international experts, academics, patient representatives and advocates. Provided for under this strategy is:

• the creation of a new national office for genetics and genomics
• the transition of genetics and genomics into routine care delivery
• targeted workforce planning and development
• ensuring Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) and partnership
• the strengthening of Ireland’s infrastructure to drive advances in this area.

You can find more information here.

The Laura Brennan HPV Vaccine Catch-up Programme

Laura Brennan was diagnosed with terminal cervical cancer at just 25 years of age and sadly died in March 2019. Her advocacy for the HPV vaccine, which protects from cervical and other HPV cancers, has greatly contributed to an increase in the uptake of the HPV vaccine.

The programme pays tribute to her dedication and tireless efforts.

The Laura Brennan HPV vaccine catch-up programme gives people who were eligible but may have missed out on the vaccine in school a chance to get this safe and effective vaccine.

If you or your child was offered the HPV vaccine at school but didn't get it, you can check if you are eligible 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.

This winter, we are promoting local injury units across the country through local radio ads and paid search ads. A press insert outlining information about local injury units also appeared in local papers last week.

See here for more information.for more information.

START campaign in January

The campaign will be back on TV, radio, cinema and online throughout January. While reducing treats is as important as ever, you’ll see our ‘one daily win’ TV ad this time, offering parents and guardians more healthy habit options, with lots of tips and advice for families at makeastart.ie. Download the pack at the bottom of this email for messages and social media resources.

HSeLanD module launch: Non-cognitive symptoms of dementia

The HSE's National Dementia Office has launched a new eLearning module to support all healthcare professionals who provide care to people with dementia across all settings. Available now on HSeLanD, the new eLearning module ‘Support pathways for people with non-cognitive symptoms of dementia’ will help to determine the best person-centred supports for a person with non-cognitive symptoms of dementia and to recognise the risks of unnecessarily prescribing psychotropic medication.

The module contains 3 key topics:

1.     Non-cognitive symptoms of dementia

2.     Tailored person-centered support

3.     Risks of psychotropic medication

Please search “non-cognitive symptoms of dementia” on the HSeLanD website here to find this module. The module can also be found in the “clinical skills” section of the course catalogue on HSeLanD.

Children’s nasal spray flu vaccine campaign articles

As part of the children’s nasal spray flu vaccine campaign, a native article has been published on mummypages.ie providing information about the flu vaccine and how important it is to get children vaccinated. The article encourages parents of children between the ages of 2 and 17 years to get the nasal spray flu vaccine for their child to help protect them for the rest of winter. Read ‘The flu vaccine and what parents need to know’ here.

A second native article was published on rollercoaster.ie giving parents tips on how to protect their children from common illnesses this winter. It contains advice on how to help stop the spread, encourages parents to keep kids up to date with all recommended vaccines and provides information on flu, Strep A and scarlet fever. Read ‘Tips to protect your kids from common illnesses this winter’ here.

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

HSE Health and Wellbeing Christmas Concert 2022 – Live Broadcast 4 pm 21st December

HSE Health and Wellbeing is once again bringing festive song and season's greetings to staff, their families, colleagues and friends across the country on 21st December. This year's Christmas concert promises to be another wonderful event. Registration is now open and can be accessed can be accessed here.

The event will include performances from numerous staff choirs from the four corners of Ireland, special guests include Gerard Peregrine, Niamh Kavanagh and Jerry Fish live on the day.

Button batteries and other holiday hazards

Keeping batteries out of reach and checking toys for safety hazards are some of the ways parents, relatives and Santa Claus can avoid common child injuries this Christmas. Learn more about toy safety and common poison risks at this time of year and please share the advice with others.

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.

Many thanks and best wishes,

Kahlil & Katie

COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement, HSE Communications