Vol. 524 No. 1
122 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children if arrangements for the anti-flu vaccine have been agreed with all interested parties so medical card holders can now avail of the vaccine free of charge. [21818/00]
Vaccination against influenza is available to medical card holders in the at-risk groups free of charge from their GP. Agreement has been reached between the Health Service Employers Agency and the Irish Medical Organisation on a fee for general practitioners in this regard.
The optimum time for influenza vaccination is September-October and there has been an extensive advertising campaign in recent weeks to promote this vaccination. I would encourage persons at risk of contracting the disease, especially those over 65, to discuss vaccination against influenza with their general practitioner if they have not already done so. It is also important that general practitioners ensure that the at-risk patients in their practice are contacted and invited to attend for vaccination.
