HSE Partner Pack 3rd February 2023

Get your COVID-19 booster vaccine at a walk-in clinic this Bank Holiday weekend

• No appointment necessary
• Walk-in clinics available nationwide
• Details available on hse.ie/walkin

The HSE has announced that everyone aged 18 years and over who has not received their next dose of COVID-19 booster vaccine can go to our walk-in vaccination clinics running this Bank Holiday weekend from Friday to Monday. 

Clinics are available nationwide in 34 locations with at least one in each county.

No appointment is needed and you can attend any of these walk-in clinics.

Everyone will be offered a bivalent booster vaccine. Vaccines are proven to be your best protection against serious illness from COVID-19. If you haven’t had your booster vaccine yet, you’re at high risk.

The HSE will also issue a reminder text messages to the 18-49 year olds due a booster.

Booster COVID-19 vaccines are also available at participating GPs and pharmacies and information on getting your booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is available here.

HSE offers COVID-19 bivalent booster to people aged 12-64 at high risk of serious illness

The HSE will be contacting people aged 12 to 64 years with a condition that puts them at high risk of serious illness from COVID-19 to offer them a third COVID-19 booster dose if the second booster they received was not a bivalent vaccine.

Bivalent vaccines were introduced to the vaccination programme on 3^rd October 2022. If you are not sure which vaccine you had you can contact HSELive on 1800 700 700 for details.

Advice for people at higher risk from COVID-19

You should contact a doctor urgently if you are at higher risk and you have COVID-19 symptoms or you have a positive COVID-19 PCR or antigen test.

Some people who are at higher risk from COVID-19 may be recommended for treatments. If your doctor decides that treatment is right for you, you’ll start treatment as soon as possible. Treatment for COVID-19 is free of charge through the HSE if it is recommended for you.

If COVID-19 treatment is not recommended for you, your doctor will provide you with the care that is right for your condition and symptoms.

You can find more information here and also information on how to stay safe here.

Protect yourself and your family from common winter illnesses

There has been a significant rise in common winter illnesses like RSV, flu and COVID-19 this winter. You can help prevent common winter illnesses by:

• Staying home if you are unwell (child or adult)
• Practicing good hand hygiene
• Covering coughs and sneezes
• Getting your recommended vaccines

Our guide to keeping well this winter contains advice for patients with chronic conditions. It also has information on how to manage common illnesses at home and advice about COVID-19.

RSV and flu in children

The flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are still circulating. Remember to keep children at home if they’re unwell, wash hands, cover coughs or sneezes and stay up to date with recommended vaccines. Please visit hse.ie/winter for advice on preventing and treating common illnesses in children, and when to get medical help.

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.

COVID-19 Testing 

Details are available 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:

The Laura Brennan HPV vaccine catch-up programme

An advertising campaign to promote The Laura Brennan HPV vaccine catch-up programme is currently live. Clinics are being set up around the country to allow young people who didn’t get the HPV vaccine when it was offered to them in school, to get it now for free as part of the catch-up programme. Appointments are available to anyone who hasn’t got the HPV vaccine and is:

• female age 16 to 24 years
• male age 16 or older who started 1st year of secondary school, homeschool or a special school between 2019 and 2021

You can find more information at hpv.ie

A campaign partner pack is attached at the bottom of this message. We would be grateful if you would share the campaign messages with your networks.

National Lottery funding

The HSE has been allocated National Lottery funding for distribution, under the Respite Care Grant Scheme and the National Lottery Grant Scheme.

The HSE invites community groups and voluntary organisations providing health and personal social services to apply for once-off funding for suitable projects.

• Amounts available: €300 to €10,000
• Closing date: Friday, 17th February 2023 at noon

For more information and how to apply, visit www.hse.ie/lotterygrants or call HSELive on 1800 700 700.

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. See here for more information.

START campaign: register for free parenting webinar
The START campaign is encouraging parents and guardians to start healthy family habits with one daily win. For example, replace sugary breakfast cereal for a healthy one, introduce vegetables to dinner time, have fruit after school instead of treats, or drink water with meals. There are plenty of tips for families to help choose one small change, make a plan, and stick to it. Find advice at makeastart.ie or join the talk for parents on 7th February at 7pm.

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

Panti Bliss helps launch our Reach Out Network

The Reach Out Network, our national network for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex or Asexual (LGBTQIA +) staff, marked its official launch recently with the help of Panti Bliss.

The Reach Out Network serves as:

• a representative voice for LGBTQIA+ employees
• a forum to discuss experiences in a safe space
• a resource on LGBTQIA+ topics
We are committed to creating a positive working environment where all employees are respected, valued and can reach their full potential.

Email diversity.HR@hse.ie for more information or to join the network.

Listen to members discuss the benefits of the Reach Out Network with Panti Bliss on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7RBfCm91YDE

NAS recruitment campaign

The National Ambulance Service (NAS) launched a campaign last week to recruit for student paramedic roles. A radio ad is currently running across national and local stations, and social media ads will run until 5th February on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok. For more information about the campaign, please contact ciara.browne1@hse.ie.

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,

Kahlil & Katie

COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement, HSE Communications