The Department of Health would like to remind the general public on the need to be vaccinated against seasonal influenza. According to the European Influenza Surveillance Scheme, which monitors influenza activity across the European Union, the number of confirmed influenza cases continues to increase but clinical influenza activity in most Europe remains low. The closing of schools and the occurrence of public holidays over Christmas and the New Year are contributory factors. The experience in recent years has been that the peak activity of influenza occurs after the New Year period.

The Department of Primary Health is now offering the seasonal influenza vaccine free of charge to all the general public including children. The public may call at the immunisation clinics within Primary Health Centres and are reminded to take their identity cards with them.