Our Schools Vaccination Programme is part of a national strategy to protect children from Influenza through vaccination. The children’s vaccine is a nasal vaccine so it’s quick and painless. All children from the age of 2 years will be offered a FREE flu vaccine from October, as the HSE steps up its life-saving vaccination programme to protect the country against the flu virus ahead of winter. The flu season typically peaks in January so vaccinating children and adults before Christmas will mean those at greatest risk will be better protected in the coldest months when viruses circulate more as people gather indoors. The HSE have asked us to reach out to schools. Vaccination in schools increases the uptake rate and ensures a successful flu vaccine campaign, which in turn helps protect the vulnerable members of our community.

We run onsite vaccination days for national and secondary schools nationwide. The days run very efficiently, and both teachers and parents were very appreciative of the service. Each school is assigned a clinic coordinator.

We've simplified the school process by going paperless. Parents receive a link to our online portal, where they can access flu vaccine info and complete electronic consent forms for their child. This eliminates paperwork for school staff. By going paperless we also enhanced efficiency, convenience, accuracy, and accessibility for parents and school administrators alike.

Our School Flu Vaccination Campaign will commence in October 2024. If you would like to register your school for an onsite flu clinic day, you can contact your local Hickey's pharmacy (link to all stores page) or click the ‘Register Interest’ button below.

Further to the statement of the Minister for Health on 15th July 2024 in relation to vaccine eligibility we are now taking provisional bookings for secondary schools.

• The service is provided free to the school and to parents.
• Vaccination in schools will increase flu vaccine uptake rate and ensure a successful flu vaccine campaign. This will help to protect the vulnerable members of our community.
• The children’s flu vaccine is a nasal spray, meaning it is simple, painless and easy to administer.
• Parents are extremely appreciative when this service is offered in schools. Parents can often struggle to get vaccine appointments for their children without taking time off work or taking kids out of school. This has proven to be a barrier to vaccine uptake.

• We are an Irish owned pharmacy operator.
• Our service is paperless, meaning your school administrators will not be drowned in paperwork. We will organise all the appointments, paperwork and the consent forms using our online portal.
• We have experience delivering the service in larger schools where larger vaccination teams are required.
• Schools will have a dedicated coordinator who will act as a single point of contact for the school to answer any queries they may have from parents/staff.
• We have huge experience in providing a school vaccination service since the initiative was started in 2002. See testimonials below.
• All of our experienced vaccinators are pharmacists who undertake specialist vaccination training each year.
• We are fully insured.
• Our Schools Vaccination programme was shortlisted for a pharmacy services innovation award last year.

• A room to vaccinate in e.g. a school hall or large classroom.
• To send an email to parents in which there will be a link to information about the flu vaccine and an electronic consent form to complete for their child.
• A member of staff or an older responsible student on the day to call consented students. A list will be sent to the school ahead of the clinic with details of child, class year and teacher.

Firhouse community college:

Thank you for coming onsite. We had a suberb uptake for flu vaccination here in Firhouse CC. The whole operation was seamless. It did not have any impact on staff members. We are usually tied up collecting all the paper consent forms so it was great to see it has gone electronic. Parents and teachers were very appreciative of the service and we look forward to welcoming you back next year.

Lucan Community College

Thanks to you and your team today. You all were seamless and smooth in your operation and it was an absolute pleasure to have you in our school. We have been receiving compliments from our staff about your care and professionalism. Thanks again and we are looking forward to having you back again next year with an even higher take up for the vaccine.

Naas Community College

Excellent service for students and staff. The Pharmacy team were friendly, helpful and very efficient. Communication and administration was seamless from start to finish, vaccinations were well organised and completed in half a day. We have registered for this year also and will remain returning customers for annual vaccinations.

St Josephs BNS Rachel Harte :

I didn't have to think about who to go with for our vaccines this year. We were very impressed with how last year was run by yourselves, and by the care and consideration given to all of our pupils, that we knew exactly who to sign up with this year!.

Here is a fun superhero video on flu vaccination for younger kids click here. Some of our schools showed this short video to younger students in a Primary school setting and it reassures the students and gives them a better understanding of what will happen on clinic days. We also give younger students a ‘Flu fighter’ sticker as reward for their bravery!

The children’s flu vaccine is a nasal spray, meaning it is simple, painless and easy to administer. Please click the link to see a demonstration video Youtube.

The nasal flu vaccine for children is given as a single dose of nasal spray squirted up each nostril. *Not only is it needle-free, the nasal spray works even better than the injected flu vaccine with fewer side effects. It’s quick and painless and will mean the student is less likely to become ill if they come into contact with the flu virus.

• Childrens Nasal Flu Spray : Youtube
• HSE Information Leaflets on Children's vaccine: English | Irish
• HSE guidelines - HSE

Above information is in line with this season’s (2023/24) HSE Flu initiative.