Quick Overview – Children’s Flu Vaccine (Age 2–17)

Book your child’s flu vaccine today to help keep them and your family safe.

Who: All children aged 2–17 years
How: Quick and painless nasal spray (injection available if needed)
Why: Protects children against flu and reduces spread at home and school
When: Once a year, takes 2 weeks to work
Safety: Used worldwide for years, safe alongside school or COVID-19 vaccines
Side effects: Usually mild (blocked nose, headache, tiredness, mild fever) – serious side effects are very rare

Detailed Information

Why children should get the flu vaccine

Child Flu Vaccination (Age 2–17)

The flu vaccine helps protect children against flu. While most children will only have mild symptoms, those with chronic health conditions are at greater risk of serious complications.

In some cases, flu can lead to:

✚ Pneumonia
✚ Bronchitis
✚ Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis)

Children with these complications may need hospital treatment, including intensive care.

In Ireland, over the last 10 years:

✚ Almost 5,000 children were admitted to hospital with flu complications
✚ Nearly 200 children needed intensive care
✚ Sadly, 40 children died

Children can catch and spread flu very easily. Vaccination helps stop the spread of flu in schools and at home, keeping families and communities safe.

The flu vaccine for children

The vaccine is given as a nasal spray called the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV).
It is approved for children aged 2 to 17 years.
If your child cannot have the nasal spray, speak with your pharmacist about the injection version.
Children under 2 years who are at risk of flu complications can also get a flu vaccine by injection.

How the nasal spray is given

The vaccine is sprayed once into each nostril.
It is quick, painless, and absorbed fast.
If your child sneezes or blows their nose afterwards, the dose does not need to be repeated.
It takes about 2 weeks for the vaccine to work.

Safety of the flu vaccine

All vaccines are thoroughly tested to ensure safety. The nasal flu vaccine has been used safely for millions of children worldwide:

✚ In the US since 2003
✚ In the UK since 2013
✚ In Ireland since 2020

It is safe for children to get the flu vaccine alongside other vaccines, including their school vaccines or the COVID-19 vaccine.

When to delay vaccination

Wait until your child feels better if they:

✚ Have a high temperature
✚ Have a very blocked or runny nose

Side effects

Your child may experience mild side effects. These are usually short-lived and go away on their own.

Common side effects include:

✚ Headache
✚ Runny or blocked nose
✚ Muscle aches
✚ Tiredness
✚ Loss of appetite
✚ Mild fever (high temperature)

If your child has a headache or fever, you can give them paracetamol or ibuprofen. Symptoms usually settle within a day or two.

⚠️ Important: Never give your child aspirin or medicines containing aspirin unless prescribed by your GP, especially in the 4 weeks after vaccination.

Rare side effects:

✚ Severe allergic reactions (very rare)
✚ Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) has been reported in very rare cases. The risk of GBS after flu infection is higher than after the flu vaccine.

Immunity

Flu vaccines reduce the risk of infection by 40% to 60%.

Even if vaccinated, your child could still get the flu, but the illness is usually milder.

If your child does not get the vaccine, they should take extra care by:

✚ Washing hands regularly with soap and water (or hand sanitiser)
✚ Covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or sleeve
✚ Disposing of tissues in a bin immediately

Flu vaccine and COVID-19

The nasal flu vaccine does not protect against COVID-19.

Children can get the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as their flu vaccine.

FAQ's

How the Flu vaccine works

The flu vaccine helps your immune system to produce antibodies (proteins that fight infection). If you have had the flu vaccine and you come into contact with the flu virus, the vaccine can stop you from getting sick.

The flu vaccine starts to work within 2 weeks.

You need to have the flu vaccine every year. This is because the antibodies that protect you decline over time. Flu strains can also change from year to year.
Is the Flu Vaccine safe?

Yes. The flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself from getting the flu.

It cannot prevent every case of flu, but it greatly reduces your risk of infection.

Flu vaccines usually reduce the risk of getting the flu by 40% to 60%.

If you do catch the flu after being vaccinated, your illness is likely to be milder and you will recover more quickly.

The flu vaccine has been used safely for decades in millions of people worldwide, including pregnant women.
Are there side effects?

The most common side effects are mild and include soreness, redness or swelling where the injection was given. Headache, fever, aches, drowsiness, and tiredness may occur. You may have mild sweating and shivering as your immune system responds to the vaccine. This is not flu and will pass in a day or so.

Serious side effects such as a severe allergic reaction are rare.

In very rare cases Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) has been reported. However, the risk of GBS following flu is significantly greater than that following the flu vaccine.
How much does the Flu
vaccine cost?

The flu vaccine will be provided for free to children aged 2–17 years, adults aged over 60, or adults who fall into an at-risk category.

If you don’t fall into one of these categories, the cost is €35.
How do I book my Flu
vaccine appointment?

Visit our website or download the McCabes App to book your vaccine with your chosen store. Once you make your booking you will receive a booking confirmation via email and text.

Flu Vaccine: Age Cohorts

The flu vaccine is offered to certain age groups because they are more likely to get very sick if they catch the flu. In Ireland, the vaccine is free for all children aged 2 to 17 years and for adults aged 60 and over. Getting vaccinated helps protect you and also helps stop the flu spreading to family, friends, and the wider community.