Quick Overview – Children’s Flu Vaccine (Age 2–17)
Book your child’s flu vaccine today to help keep them and your family safe.
- Who: All children aged 2–17 years
- How: Quick and painless nasal spray (injection available if needed)
- Why: Protects children against flu and reduces spread at home and school
- When: Once a year, takes 2 weeks to work
- Safety: Used worldwide for years, safe alongside school or COVID-19 vaccines
- Side effects: Usually mild (blocked nose, headache, tiredness, mild fever) – serious side effects are very rare
The flu vaccine for children
- The vaccine is given as a nasal spray called the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV).
- It is approved for children aged 2 to 17 years.
- If your child cannot have the nasal spray, speak with your pharmacist about the injection version.
- Children under 2 years who are at risk of flu complications can also get a flu vaccine by injection.
How the nasal spray is given
- The vaccine is sprayed once into each nostril.
- It is quick, painless, and absorbed fast.
- If your child sneezes or blows their nose afterwards, the dose does not need to be repeated.
- It takes about 2 weeks for the vaccine to work.
FAQ's
- How the Flu vaccine works
The flu vaccine helps your immune system to produce antibodies (proteins that fight infection). If you have had the flu vaccine and you come into contact with the flu virus, the vaccine can stop you from getting sick.
The flu vaccine starts to work within 2 weeks.
You need to have the flu vaccine every year. This is because the antibodies that protect you decline over time. Flu strains can also change from year to year. - Is the Flu Vaccine safe?
Yes. The flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself from getting the flu.
It cannot prevent every case of flu, but it greatly reduces your risk of infection.
Flu vaccines usually reduce the risk of getting the flu by 40% to 60%.
If you do catch the flu after being vaccinated, your illness is likely to be milder and you will recover more quickly.
The flu vaccine has been used safely for decades in millions of people worldwide, including pregnant women. - Are there side effects?
The most common side effects are mild and include soreness, redness or swelling where the injection was given. Headache, fever, aches, drowsiness, and tiredness may occur. You may have mild sweating and shivering as your immune system responds to the vaccine. This is not flu and will pass in a day or so.
Serious side effects such as a severe allergic reaction are rare.
In very rare cases Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) has been reported. However, the risk of GBS following flu is significantly greater than that following the flu vaccine. - How much does the Flu
vaccine cost?
The flu vaccine will be provided for free to children aged 2–17 years, adults aged over 60, or adults who fall into an at-risk category.
If you don’t fall into one of these categories, the cost is €35. - How do I book my Flu
vaccine appointment?
Visit our website or download the McCabes App to book your vaccine with your chosen store. Once you make your booking you will receive a booking confirmation via email and text.
Flu Vaccine: Age Cohorts
The flu vaccine is offered to certain age groups because they are more likely to get very sick if they catch the flu. In Ireland, the vaccine is free for all children aged 2 to 17 years and for adults aged 60 and over. Getting vaccinated helps protect you and also helps stop the flu spreading to family, friends, and the wider community.
