The country is gearing up to fight the triple threat of Covid, RSV and flu this winter, with “significant levels” of community transmission expected, Cabinet will be told today.

A free nationwide vaccination campaign will roll out next week, with jabs for Covid and flu to be given to eligible people to combat spikes of the three viruses.

Local GPs and pharmacies will oversee the roll-out of the vaccines.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly will outline his plans to Cabinet colleagues and what he is doing to avoid last year’s chaotic scenes at hospitals throughout the winter months.

An adapted version of the Pfizer Covid vaccine will be rolled out as a Covid booster and the children’s flu vaccination programme is also scheduled to kick off from October 9.

Free flu vaccines will be given to people aged over 65, children aged two to 12, healthcare workers, pregnant women, people who are at risk or live with those who are at risk, caregivers for people with underlying conditions and people in regular contact with pigs, poultry or waterfowl.

The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) has recommended for Covid vaccines to be focused on people aged over 50, people aged five to 49 who are immuno-compromised due to a suboptimal response to vaccines, those aged five to 49 years with medical conditions associated with a higher risk of Covid-19 hospitalisation, severe disease or death, as well as pregnant women and healthcare workers.

The Department of Health has now requested advice from NIAC on how to combat RSV.

A decision on whether or not to vaccinate pregnant women with the RSV jab will be made following NIAC advice.

The HSE has developed testing and tracing surge and emergency response plans if testing and tracing of Covid-19 has to be scaled up.

Testing and tracing of the virus is now focused on mitigation of its severe impacts for those most vulnerable to the disease as well as those who may need “specific interventions”.

SOURCE: The Irish Independent.ie