Flu, COVID, Shingles & Pneumonia Vaccinations
Thank you for visiting our site.
Our vaccine calendars are currently closed as we are waiting to hear when we will receive our COVID and Flu vaccines from the HSE.
We expect the season will begin in early October 2025. We will open the appointment slots as soon as we know when we will receive our vaccines and we will update our patients here on our website and on our social media accounts.
Please note that the Children’s inhaled nasal vaccine is finished for flu season 2024-2025. It will next be available approximately week 2 of October 2025. If you have a child aged 2yrs to 17yrs who requires a flu vaccine, it will be a injected flu vaccine.
Influenza vaccination by injection is available until approximately April 2025. After April, the next influenza vaccination period by injection will be late September 2025.
What is influenza (flu)?
Influenza is a highly infectious acute respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus.
Influenza affects people of all ages. Outbreaks of influenza occur almost every year, usually in winter. This is why it is also known as seasonal flu.
Who is eligible for free vaccination?
Administration of the Flu Vaccine is free to all patients who belong to one of the at-risk groups listed below. (Note: not all medical card holders are automatically free)
Who are the at-risk groups?*
- persons aged 65 and over
- children aged 2 – 12 years at the time of vaccination (changed from last year which was 2 – 17)
- those with a long-term medical condition such as chronic liver disease,
- diabetes, heart or lung disease, moderate or severe asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis, MS,
- cancer patients
- persons with hereditary and degenerative disorders of the central nervous system
- persons with down syndrome
- persons whose immune system is impaired due to disease or treatment
- healthcare workers & carers (including pharmacy, nursing, dental staff)
- residents of nursing homes and long stay institutions
- persons with a body mass index (BMI) over 40
- all pregnant women, at any stage of pregnancy
- persons with regular close contact with poultry, water fowl or pigs
- household contacts of persons with increased medical risk.
Marron’s Pharmacy’s flu vaccination service is available to everyone aged 2 years old and upwards. All Marron’s pharmacists administering vaccines have completed comprehensive training and are fully certified to administer the flu vaccine.
Flu vaccination is free to all patients who are at-risk as defined above (irrespective of medical card status).
Flu vaccination is 40 euro to all other patients.**
* Eligibility criteria are subject to change by the HSE, ask in store for details.
**Private flu vaccine (i.e. for patients who do not have a risk factor as per HSE guidelines).
This page was updated Thursday 23rd January 2025.
*** Please note that a free pneumococcal vaccination is available to patient’s aged 65+ and individuals with specific risk factors FROM THEIR GP ONLY. Pharmacies can not provide a free pneumonia vaccine as we do not receive a free vaccine from the HSE for administration. We can procure and provide the vaccine for the fee specified below however, we recommend that patients discuss with their GP firstly who can provide it free to eligible patients. We are available for patients who fall outside of free eligibility (usually such as a non-Irish resident or not registered with a GP). ***
What is pneumococcal disease?
Pneumococcal disease is the term used to describe a range of illnesses caused by the Streptococcus pneumoniae bug such as pneumonia, septicaemia (blood poisoning) and meningitis (inflammation around the brain). Many people carry the bacteria in their nose and throat without causing any harm but sometimes the bacteria can invade the lungs and bloodstream.
The bacteria are spread from person to person by coughing, sneezing or close contact. Pneumococcal vaccination is not recommended for healthy adults (people aged under 65 years) as they are at low risk of pneumococcal disease.
Who should get the pneumococcal vaccine?
There are two different pneumococcal vaccines available, our vaccine service refers to Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23). In adults the vaccination is recommended for*:
- Everybody aged 65 years and over
- Adults aged 18 years and over with:
- Diabetes mellitus
- Chronic heart, respiratory or liver disease
- Chronic renal disease, nephrotic syndrome, renal transplant
- Sickle cell disease
- Those with missing or non-functioning spleens
- Disorders of the immune system including cancer
- People receiving chemotherapy or other treatments that suppress the immune system
- Persons with HIV infection or AIDS
- Those who have received or are about to receive cochlear transplants
- Persons who smoke**
- Those with alcohol dependence**
- Those who are exposed to metal fumes through their work (i.e. welders)**
Who should NOT get the pneumococcal vaccine?
You shouldn’t have the vaccine if you have had an allergic reaction to a previous dose or to any part of the vaccine.
You also should not get the vaccine for a second time unless certain circumstances mean you need it again.
I think I’ve had the vaccine before, do I need another one?
Most people will only need this vaccine once. However, re-vaccination is recommended for some people and this will depend on your age and if you have any risk factors.
Ask your pharmacist to check if you are recommended to get the pneumococcal vaccine. To ensure the vaccine is suitable for you at this time we will need to confirm your pneumococcal vaccine history with your doctor.
How do I avail of the vaccination service?
To avail of the vaccination service, simply phone or call in to our pharmacy and a member of the pharmacy team will check your eligibility and arrange an appointment for a time that is convenient for you. At present, we are recommending that eligible patients receive a free vaccination from their GP. There is no arrangement with the HSE for pharmacies to administer a free Pneumonia vaccination to patients at present.
Pneumococcal vaccination in pharmacies is a private service and the cost of this service is €50.***
Customer advice
- This vaccine protects against 23 types of pneumococcal disease including those most likely to cause severe disease and most people only need to receive the vaccine once.
- Most adults will be protected by the vaccine after 3 weeks.
- If you are aged under 65 years a booster vaccination (usually given no earlier than 5 years after the first) may be recommended if you have a condition where your antibody levels are likely to decline rapidly e.g. no spleen, or a condition that weakens your immune system.
- You cannot get pneumococcal disease from the vaccine, as it does not contain live bacteria.
- The pneumococcal vaccine reduces the risk of getting severe forms of pneumococcal disease such as pneumonia, meningitis and septicaemia.
Side-effects
- People can develop side-effects after a pneumococcal vaccination, although not everybody gets them.
- Very common side-effects include: soreness, pain, redness, warmth, swelling and hardening where the injection is given.
- Other side effects include: swelling, decreased mobility of the injected arm, feeling tired, generally unwell, uncontrollable shivering, feeling sick or being sick, enlarged and/or inflamed glands, pain, inflammation and swelling of the joints and muscle pains, headache and very rarely severe allergic reactions.
- Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, and weakness. If this happens, we have procedures in place to deal with this condition.
- It’s important that you stay in store for 15 minutes after your vaccination, just in case you have any immediate side-effects so you must be prepared to wait 15minutes afterwards before our pharmacists can proceed with the vaccination.
If you’re concerned about any aspects of your vaccination or about any side-effects, you should talk to one of our pharmacists.
*http://www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/pubinfo/adult/pneumo/#Who is at risk of pneumococcal disease?
**http://www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/guidelines/chapter16.pdf
***Price of this service is subject to change and may not immediately be reflected on the website so check in store for clarity.
Vaccination service subject to availability. Eligibility criteria applies.
What is shingles?
Shingles is a viral disease that causes a painful rash that appears as red blotches on your skin, usually on one side of your body only. It is the reactivation of the chickenpox most people had as a child which, since recovery in childhood, has laid dormant (inactive) in your immune system.
Why would you need the shingles vaccination?
Chickenpox is generally a benign inconvenient illness in childhood. After recovery, the virus lays inactive in your body, kept inactive by your immune system.
As you age, the ability of the immune system to continue to keep the virus suppressed reduces and the chances of having an outbreak of shingles increases with advancing age, particularly in patients aged 50+.
The shingles vaccine is a safe and effective way of reducing your chances of developing shingles.
Many people recover very well from an outbreak of shingles but some people can be unlucky to develop a post-herpetic neuralgia, a very uncomfortable nerve pain that can last months to years. Developing shingles in or around the eyes can be particularly worrying as it can lead to vision loss.
Who should get the shingles vaccine?
Although, any aged patient could develop shingles, it is more common in patients aged 50+. The vaccine is thus licensed for use in patients aged 50+.
While not precisely known why the virus reactivates in later life, it is strongly felt that it is due to lowered immunity. Lowered immunity can be as a result of the following and these patients would be encouraged to consider shingles vaccination:
- Being older– immunity decreases with age. Shingles most commonly occurs in people over 50 years old.
- Physical and emotional stress– releases a chemical into your system that can weaken your immunity.
- HIV and AIDS – significantly weakens your immunity system. People living with HIV/AIDS may be up to 25 times more likely to get shingles.
- A recent bone marrow transplant– weakens your immune system because of the conditioning you receive before your transplant.
- A recent organ transplant – medication may be required to suppress your immune system so your body can accept the donated organ. After a transplant, 25-45% of people may develop shingles.
- Chemotherapy– typically used in the treatment of some cancers, it can significantly weaken your immune system
How much does the shingles vaccination cost?
Shingles vaccination is not a routine vaccination offered by the State so patients, irrespective of medical card status, must purchase the vaccine including administration.
The course is a 2-shot vaccination (Shingrix). The shots are given at an interval of 2 months minimum to 6 months maximum. Cost is €240 per shot.
You need to speak with us if pre-booking on the calendar for a shingles vaccintion.
Information updated Thursday January 23rd 2025.
COVID Booster campaigns are dictated by the National Immunisation Advisory Council (NIAC) and at the moment, they operate as Spring and Winter booster campaigns.
The Spring Booster campaign is due to commence in April 2025 and will focus on the following groups:
For pregnant adolescents and adults, a COVID-19 vaccine once in pregnancy is recommended if it is more than six months since their previous COVID-19 vaccine or infection. COVID-19 vaccine can be given at any stage in pregnancy, ideally given between 20-34 weeks’ gestation.
NIAC have advised that patients aged 18-59 years who are healthy can access a COVID-19 vaccine during the Winter campaign, following discussion of their reasons with a health care provider (e.g., GP, pharmacist or vaccination centre).
Updated Friday 3rd March 2025
