![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_Flu-1.jpg\")
Nasal influenza vaccine on a medical tray.<\/p>\nSouth Eastern Trust Emergency Department Nurse, Sara Finlay described being struck down with Flu as the, \u201cSickest I have ever been.\u201dNasal influenza vaccine on a medical tray.<\/p>\n
A warning has been issued after 59 people were admitted to hospital with flu in Northern Ireland over the last seven days.<\/p>\n
The South Eastern Trust<\/a> said flu cases are increasing rapidly in the community as they issued an appeal to urge people to get vaccinated following the rise in hospital admissions.<\/p>\n It comes as the Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland has warned that the highest postivity rate for influenza has been in children aged 5-14 and is encouraging children and young people to take the free flu vaccine.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Lisburn mourns tragic passing of talented 12-year-old boy<\/a>READ MORE: Northern Ireland cold weather payments explained amid snow and ice warning<\/a><\/p>\n Dr Amanda McCullough, Specialty Registrar in Public Health at the PHA<\/a>, said: \u201cFlu is not just a bad cold, and last year 862 children and young people had a hospital admission with influenza in Northern Ireland. The flu vaccine offers vital protection for all school aged children, not just those with long-term health conditions. Flu spreads more easily among children in winter due to them spending more time indoors, and in close proximity in classrooms. Vaccinating children helps to protect them from severe illness, keeping them in school rather than at home sick, and it also helps to protect those around them.\u201d<\/p>\n Trust school nursing teams are currently delivering the free nasal flu vaccination programme to primary and secondary school children (up to year 12) across Northern Ireland. Parents\/ guardians should check schoolbags for flu vaccine consent forms, and sign and return them before the school nurses visit their child\u2019s school to help make sure they don\u2019t miss out.<\/p>\n Getting the vaccine when it\u2019s offered at school means children can start benefitting from the protection it offers without delay. It\u2019s also very convenient, as it just requires the form to be signed and sent back in time. If an eligible child misses the offer of vaccination in school, parents\/ guardians can make arrangements with their GP to get it.<\/p>\n In addition, pre-school children will receive the vaccine via their GP practice, so if you have not already heard from your GP practice, contact them to find out what their vaccination arrangements are.<\/p>\n Amanda continued: \u201cThe nasal flu vaccine Fluenz\u00ae was first introduced in 2013. The vaccine has an excellent safety record. Fluenz\u00ae contains viruses that have been weakened to prevent it causing flu, meaning it will help your child build up immunity in the same way as a natural infection, but without the nasty symptoms. The nasal vaccine is easy to give and painless. Each child who has the nasal spray vaccine gets the best protection against flu. It is also considered to be the best at reducing the spread of flu, helping children protect one another and others who might be vulnerable to flu. Some children may experience mild side effects, but serious side effects are very rare.<\/p>\n \u201cAs well as getting their child vaccinated, parents should encourage their children to exercise good respiratory and hand hygiene.\u201d<\/p>\n PHA advice on how you can help yourself and your child stay well this winter<\/p>\n Stay off school when sick \u2013 know when to stay home to stop the spread. If you have a high temperature stay home until you feel better or if you have diarrhoea and\/or vomiting, you should stay home for at least 48 hours after the last episode;\u2018Catch it. Bin it. Kill it\u2019 \u2013 carry tissues and use them to catch coughs or sneezes, then bin the tissue;Wash your hands \u2013 regularly wash your hands throughout the day and remember hands should always be washed after coughing or sneezing, before eating or drinking and after using the toilet;Speak to your pharmacist about over-the-counter remedies if you are feeling unwell and remember antibiotics don’t work on viruses.<\/p>\n Amanda concluded: \u201cFlu strains can change throughout the season, but no matter what strains are circulating here this winter, the vaccine offers important protection, particularly against developing serious illness and being hospitalised. We strongly encourage all those eligible to get vaccinated against flu as soon as possible \u2013 it remains our best defence.\u201d<\/p>\n The South Eastern Trust highlighted that flu vaccinations are available to the groups below and at the following locations:<\/p>\n 1. All Health and Social Care staff<\/p>\n 2 Anyone aged 65 and over<\/p>\n 3. People in clinical risk groups aged six months \u2013 64 years<\/p>\n 4. Pregnant women<\/p>\n 5. High risk poultry and avian animal health workers<\/p>\n 6. Close contacts of immunocompromised people<\/p>\n 7. Carers<\/p>\n Vaccination Centre, Ulster Hospital, Dundonald (Access via Main Entrance and follow signage)<\/p>\n Thursday 20 November 2025 \u2013 10.00 am \u2013 4.00 pm<\/p>\n Primary Care & Community Care Centre, Lagan Valley Hospital, Hillsborough Road, Lisburn<\/p>\n Friday 21 November 2025 \u2013 10.00 am \u2013 4.00 pm<\/p>\n Belfast Live Social on TikTok<\/a> will be jam-packed with food reviews, concert announcements, vox-pops of all the important questions and more – giving you handy NI-centric What’s On news at your fingertips.<\/p>\n Be sure to give us a follow HERE <\/a>and comment the type of content you’d like to see from the team in the future. 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