HSE Partner Pack 7th October 2022
Winter Vaccines Campaign
The HSE has developed a new advertising campaign that aims to promote and encourage people in Ireland to get their recommended winter vaccines (flu and COVID-19). You can view and share the TV ad at this link: https://youtu.be/IBxdYLOLEHE
This campaign brings flu and COVID-19 vaccines together for our key audiences – older people (this includes new 65+ cohort for their next booster but also anyone aged 50+ who’s yet to get their COVID-19 booster), healthcare workers, parents of children, people with long term conditions, and anyone who’s pregnant.
The campaign is informed by research on public attitudes and behaviours around COVID-19 and in-depth qualitative research.
We would be grateful if you would share the campaign messages and assets with your networks. The campaign partner pack is at the bottom of this message, with details on how you can share the campaign.
HSE’s Winter Vaccination Programme: Older people and at-risk groups urged to protect themselves against both flu and COVID-19 by getting their vaccines
The HSE’s winter vaccination programme is underway with the roll out of the free flu vaccine to recommended groups while those aged over 65 and all aged 12 and over with a weak immune system are invited for their 3rd COVID-19 booster vaccination.
The adapted bivalent vaccines are now available. These vaccines have been recommended for use as booster vaccinations by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC), following approval by the European Medicines Agency.
Both flu and COVID-19 vaccines will be available from participating GPs and Pharmacies and can be given at the same time. 15 vaccination centres across the country will also continue to provide COVID-19 vaccines,
Please find more information at hse.ie
What is my COVID-19 vaccination course?
You can download a visual guide on the recommended COVID-19 vaccination course for people living in Ireland here.
COVID-19 and booster updates
People in the following groups who haven't had a second booster vaccine can now boost their protection:
- People aged 50 and older.
- People aged 12 or over with a long-term health condition like diabetes, asthma or heart disease. Please find the lists of health conditions here.
- Healthcare workers.
- Anyone who is at least 16 weeks pregnant. If you're pregnant and you haven't had a first booster, you can get this at any stage of your pregnancy.
Your next COVID-19 vaccine will help protect you from serious illness in the months ahead. This is because protection from previous vaccines or from COVID-19 infection, decreases over time.
If you've had COVID-19 recently, wait 4 months before booking your vaccine appointment.
Vaccines are also available from participating GPs and pharmacies.
For more up to date information or to book an appointment in a HSE vaccination centre, visit hse.ie or call our team in HSE Live on 1800 700 700.
COVID-19 Testing
Details are available here.
Paxlovid™ in Ireland
Paxlovid™ is an oral medication used to treat COVID-19. It can be used to treat people who are at highest risk and should be taken in the first 5 days of illness. Paxlovid™ may not be suitable for all patients, but it can be considered for:
- Vaccinated people aged 75 or over
- Vaccinated people aged 65 or over who also have additional risks including obesity (BMI over 35), diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease
If you have COVID-19 symptoms and are at higher risk, talk to your GP or hospital team. You can find more information here.
COVID-19 vaccine resources
The HSE produces and regularly updates resources for the COVID-19 vaccine. You can visit the COVID-19 vaccine materials page for the latest leaflets and booklets including information on boosters and vaccines for children.
COVID-19 information in other languages
Visit hse.ie/translations for a range of COVID-19 vaccine information videos and resources that have been produced in other languages, including information on COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy.
Information videos on COVID-19 vaccination for parents of children aged 5-11 are available here.
Animated videos for children about COVID-19 vaccination
Animated videos for children are now available in English, Irish, Irish Sign Language and 11 other languages. You can see all of the videos here.
Health service updates and information
World Mental Health Day
On World Mental Health Day, 10th October, the HSE is launching a national campaign highlighting the common signs of mental health difficulties that many of us are experiencing. It is encouraging people to explore the range of information and resources available on YourMentaHealth.ie to find support that can help you.
The campaign is responding to research findings commissioned by the HSE which found that one in two of us have experienced difficulties with our mental health. For some these are mental health difficulties such as ongoing stress, low mood, anxiety or problems with sleep. However, often when someone isn’t feeling themselves and this feeling persists, it can be hard to recognise what’s going on or they just accept it as part of their normal daily life. Ongoing stress, low mood anxiety or sleep problems can all seem like unconnected difficulties but they can be connected to our mental health and are telling us to seek support.
As well as personal support, respondents were also interested in online, mobile apps and text supports, which are available or signposted on the website YourMentalHealth.ie, which has been redeveloped to better meet the needs of people searching for self-help and other supports. For example:
- ‘Stress control’ a HSE sponsored online programme can help you to recognise stress, how it is affecting you and more importantly help you overcome these feelings.
- ‘Minding your wellbeing’ videos can help you develop a positive outlook using mindfulness, gratitude, self-care and resilience.
- Online cognitive behavioural therapy can help you to change specific negative thoughts and behaviours that are causing current and ongoing stress and anxiety.
Visit YourMentalHealth.ie to find support that can help.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month – Attend your BreastCheck appointment when invited
BreastCheck, the National Breast Screening Programme, is encouraging women to attend their screening appointment when invited. BreastCheck offers free breast cancer screening to women aged 50 to 69. The appointment takes less than an hour and, for most women, will happen in a location close to where they live.
Every year, around 3,500 (1 in 7) women are diagnosed with breast cancer in Ireland, making it the most common invasive cancer among women. Of these, BreastCheck will detect around a third of breast cancer cases.
It’s important for all women to check for lumps or physical changes in the shape, skin or size of their breasts. If there are any changes, they should contact their GP. This is because cancer can occur at any time, including between your screening appointments.
If you haven’t had your first BreastCheck screen, you can check you are on our register at hse.ie/BreastCheck, Freephone 1800 45 45 55 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) or email us at info@breastcheck.ie
Free home STI testing
The HSE has launched the free national home STI testing service, which is now available in all 26 counties in Ireland.
Anyone aged 17 and over can now order a free home STI test kit on the online platform by visiting www.sexualwellbeing.ie.
The service has been re-branded, please see new posters, business cards and social media images in the campaign partner pack at the bottom of this email – these will also be available shortly to order on healthpromotion.ie. Please replace any previous branding with the new HSE images.
We would ask you to support the communication of this service to your relevant networks and ask that you please direct people to www.sexualwellbeing.ie for more information and to order a test. There is a link on the website that will take people to the online platform to book a test.
HSE issues Public Health advice following bacterial meningitis notifications
The HSE has confirmed that it is investigating four cases of meningococcal meningitis/septicaemia reported in the last week of September; 3 cases are confirmed and one is possible. Three of the cases are reported to be caused by serogroup B. Sadly, two of the people affected have died.
The cases were reported from different regions of the country and have no known links with each other. Three of the cases are young adults and one case is less than 10 years of age.
Close contacts are being identified by public health and will be provided with antibiotics to prevent infection and will also be offered vaccine if appropriate.
Meningitis and septicaemia often happen together. Symptoms can appear in any order. Some may not appear at all.
Early symptoms can include:
-
- Fever
- Headache
- Neck stiffness
- Vomiting
- Drowsiness
- Discomfort from bright light
- Diarrhoea
- Muscle pain
- Stomach cramps
- Fever with cold hands and feet
- A rash may appear (pin-prick type marks which if untreated can spread to form bruises or blood blisters). DO NOT WAIT FOR A RASH. If someone is ill and getting worse, get medical help immediately.
The HSE advises that if anyone has any concerns they should contact their GP in the first instance but ensure that medical expertise is sought quickly.
You can find more information here.
Free on-line stress control programme
HSE Health and Wellbeing are offering a free on-line stress control programme, beginning on Monday 17th October. This is an evidence-based programme that teaches you practical skills to deal with stress, recognise the signs of stress and how it affects our bodies and our thoughts. It also teaches skills to overcome panicky feelings and tips to getting a good night’s sleep. Simply visit www.stresscontrol.ie
Quit
The HSE is inviting people who smoke to take the 28-day no smoking challenge this October and join thousands of others who have already quit smoking in 2022. For free advice and support to quit smoking this October. Sign up here.
World Mental Health Day Webinar: Making the Connections
This webinar will take place on Monday, 10th October at 12:30 and will include an overview of the new HSE’s Mental Health Literacy Campaign which is being launched on World Mental Health Day. The campaign helps people make the connection between common mental health difficulties like ongoing stress, sleep, anxiety or low mood that they or others in their life may be experiencing and highlights the different levels of support that can help.
An expert panel will host an open conservation on the topics covered in the new mental health literacy campaign, the HSE’s free resources and supports available on yourmentalhealth.ie and those of the HSE’s partners.
You can register for this webinar here.
Being LGBTQI+ in Ireland National Study
The Being LGBTQI+ in Ireland National Study is currently open for participants, until 31st October. This study aims to explore and measure resilience among the LGBTQI+ community, and assess the progress of their mental health and wellbeing since the LGBTIreland Report in 2016. This national survey is being conducted by Trinity College Dublin in partnership with Belong To Youth Services, and with the support of the HSE and government. Take part in the study - to have your voice heard – and read more here.
Health service information for Ukrainian nationals
- Updated mental health supports information is here
- Disability services information is here
- Healthcare services information is here
- COVID-19 information is here
- COVID-19 vaccination video, Dr Oksana Kozdoba, a Pediatrician from Ukraine, shares information about the vaccination programme in Ireland. She covers the vaccines offered in Ireland to protect babies, school children and adults.
Stay safe
COVID-19 is still with us. These are important things that we can all keep doing to help reduce infection:
- Isolate if you are symptomatic (even if you are fully vaccinated and boosted) or if you are diagnosed with COVID-19
- If you have symptoms, stay at home until 48 hours after symptoms resolve
- Complete your primary and booster programme of vaccination
- Continue to manage risk for yourself and others who are more vulnerable. You can do this by wearing masks, physical distancing and avoiding crowds as well as maintaining basic hand and respiratory hygiene
Public Health Information
For updated information and advice on Coronavirus, please go to: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/covid19/ and https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/. Clinical and professional guidance relating to COVID-19 is available on www.hpsc.ie where you’ll find up to date guidance for healthcare settings and non-clinical settings.
Please check here for partner resources for COVID-19.
You can find translated resources here.
You can find the COVID-19 A-Z information here from the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).
You can view the latest information on how Ireland is responding to cases of COVID-19 here.
Ireland’s COVID-19 Data Hub is available here.
HSE Free Home STI Testing Partner Pack 2022 061022: https://hsestakeholder-newsroom.prgloo.com/resources/m1cxd-4ag9o-rqtf6-dlpey-82hu8
Time to Top-Up Partner Pack: https://hsestakeholder-newsroom.prgloo.com/resources/mslud-idf75-jhklj-gf57t-c74fg