The free flu vaccine is being rolled out to everyone over the age of 60 and children under the age of 17.
Announcing the move, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said the expansion of free vaccines will be rolled out in 2024 and 2025.
Children aged two and over will be eligible for the nasal spray flu vaccine.
An injectable vaccine will be available for other eligible groups, including those aged 60 and over, people with certain health conditions and healthcare workers.
The free vaccine is also available to pregnant people, nursing home residents and household contacts of people with underlying conditions or Down Syndrome.
Free flu vaccine
Minister Donnelly said the expansion will “ensure that those who are most vulnerable to the effects of flu will be offered protection, free of charge”.
“The expansion of this programme is particularly important when we consider the pressure that flu cases and hospitalisations place on our healthcare service,” he said.
“I encourage everyone who is eligible for the vaccine to take up the offer once the programme commences.”
Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Colette Bonner said vaccines are “the most effective means of protection” people can use.
“By making the seasonal flu vaccine available free of charge to all adults from 60 years of age, we are helping to protect the population against flu and to reduce its spread in the community,” she said.
“This extension is intended to further limit the burden on our health services for flu-related illnesses over the winter months.”
Flu deaths in winter
Last winter, 48 people died with flu, including five people who died over the Christmas period, according to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).
The spike in cases of flu and COVID-19 over the winter period put greater pressure on hospitals, with thousands of patients treated without beds around the country, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.
Infectious diseases expert Prof Sam McConkey previously told Newstalk a new national vaccination programme could cut hospital admissions by up to 75,000.
A report from the Office of Health Economics (OHE) has found that 1,429 deaths and 16,555 life years could be saved if recommended programmes from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) were put in place.
