Flu and COVID-19 Vaccines This Autumn: What Families in Louth and Meath Need to Know

It might still feel like summer, but flu season in Ireland is closer than you think. Every year, flu and COVID-19 vaccination season kicks off around late September and October, and every year the same thing happens: the first cold snap arrives, everyone tries to book at once, and the people who planned ahead are already protected while everyone else is scrambling for appointments.

This autumn, Mark's Pharmacy in Ardee will be offering seasonal vaccinations for patients across Ardee, Drogheda, Dundalk, Navan and the wider Louth and Meath area. If you or someone in your family gets vaccinated each year, or you are thinking about it for the first time, here is what you need to know before the season starts.

Why bother with a flu vaccine every year?

Flu is not just a bad cold. It is a highly contagious viral infection that can knock a healthy adult out for one to two weeks with fever, muscle and joint pain, exhaustion and a heavy chest. For older adults, pregnant women and people with certain health conditions, it can lead to serious complications and hospitalisation.

The reason it is an annual vaccine is simple: the flu virus changes every year. Each season's vaccine is updated to match the strains expected to circulate that winter, so last year's jab will not give you reliable protection this year.

Getting vaccinated in autumn, ideally before the end of October, means your immunity is in place before flu really starts circulating in the community. It protects you, and it also protects the people around you who are more vulnerable, whether that is an elderly parent, a newborn in the family or a colleague going through treatment.

What about the COVID-19 booster?

Immunity from previous COVID-19 vaccines or infections fades over time. An autumn booster tops up that protection heading into winter, which matters most for older adults and people with underlying health conditions.

The convenient part is that the HSE advises flu and COVID-19 vaccines can be given at the same appointment. One visit, both jabs, done for the winter. If you are eligible for both, there is very little reason to make two trips.

Who can get a free flu vaccine in Ireland?

Eligibility for each season is confirmed by the HSE, but in recent seasons the free flu vaccine has been available to a wide range of groups, including:

• Adults aged 60 and over
• Children aged 2 to 17, who receive a nasal spray version rather than an injection, so no needles involved
• Pregnant women, at any stage of pregnancy
• People with certain long-term health conditions, including chronic heart, lung, liver and kidney conditions, diabetes and others
• Healthcare workers and carers
• People living with someone at higher risk from flu
• Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities

If you do not fall into a free eligibility group, you can still choose to get vaccinated privately and protect yourself for the winter. Not sure where you stand? That is exactly the kind of question we are happy to answer. Get in touch and we will talk you through it, no appointment needed for a quick chat.

Why get vaccinated at a pharmacy rather than the GP?

Pharmacies have become the go-to option for seasonal vaccines in Ireland, and for good reason:

• No GP referral needed. You book directly with us.
• Faster access. GP appointments around Louth and Meath fill up quickly once the season starts. Pharmacy slots are typically easier to get, and the visit itself takes minutes.
• Local and convenient. We are right in the heart of Ardee, with easy access whether you are coming from town or travelling in from Drogheda, Dundalk, Collon, Dunleer or anywhere across Louth and Meath.
• A trained clinical team. Our pharmacists are fully trained in administering vaccines, and we have been providing flu vaccination as part of our clinical services for years, alongside services like shingles vaccination.

When should you get your vaccines this year?

The sweet spot is late September through the end of October. That gives your immune system time to build protection, usually around two weeks, before flu activity picks up in November and December.

Our advice is simple: do not wait for the news to start reporting a bad flu season. By then, demand spikes and the virus is already circulating. Getting vaccinated early in the season is the single easiest thing you can do to protect your winter plans, whether that is Christmas with family, work you cannot afford to miss, or just not spending a week of December in bed.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get the flu and COVID-19 vaccine at the same time? Yes. The HSE advises both can be given at the same appointment, and this is the most convenient option for most people who are eligible for both.

Does the flu vaccine give you the flu? No. The injected flu vaccine does not contain live virus, so it cannot give you flu. Some people notice a sore arm, mild tiredness or a slight temperature for a day or so, which is simply the immune system responding.

Do children get an injection? No. Children aged 2 to 17 receive the flu vaccine as a nasal spray, which makes it quick and stress-free for kids and parents alike.

I'm healthy and under 60. Is it worth it? Flu does not only affect at-risk groups, it just affects them more severely. If you want to avoid losing a week or two to illness this winter, or you spend time around vulnerable family members, vaccination is worth considering even if you are not in a free eligibility group.

How do I find out more or register my interest? Just get in touch. Call us on +353 41 685 6955, Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm, message us on WhatsApp, or email info@markspharmacy.ie. We will confirm eligibility, availability and timings for this season, and let you know as soon as vaccines arrive in stock.

Get winter-ready with Mark's Pharmacy in Ardee

Vaccine season will be here before you know it. If you or your family plan to get the flu vaccine or COVID-19 booster this autumn, let us know you are interested now and we will make sure you are looked after when the season opens.

Call +353 41 685 6955 or email info@markspharmacy.ie to find out more. Serving Ardee, Louth, Meath and the surrounding areas.