Expansion of flu vaccine programme will only have small impact on hospitals, warns watchdog

Hiqa said the number of people aged 50-64 requiring a hospital stay with flu each year is “relatively modest”.

Expanding the free flu vaccination programme to all people aged 50-64 over the coming winter is likely to only lead to a small reduction in pressure on hospitals, according to the State’s health watchdog.

An assessment by the Health Information and Quality Authority of providing the flu vaccine to those aged 50-64 living in the Republic for the 2023/24 flu season estimated it would cost €2.27m to achieve a vaccination target rate of 35%.