As Christmas approaches, we are all longing to reconnect in person with loved ones and remaining healthy is key.
With the added challenge of the pandemic this year, the Government is asking parents to vaccinate their children against the influenza virus, as children are twice as likely to contract the flu.
They are also more likely to suffer serious complications such as pneumonia or bronchitis.
As we come out of Level 5 restrictions and our social contacts increase, parents are being encouraged to book in with their GP or local pharmacist for the painless nasal flu vaccine, which is available for free to children aged two to 12 years.
Free and painless
GP Dr Eleanor Galvin says: "The introduction of the children's winter flu vaccine should be welcomed by all parents. It's simple, free, painless and has little to no side effects.
"With our nation's COVID-19 infections still fluctuating dramatically between lockdowns, alongside the effort to keep schools open this academic year, getting the flu vaccine for your children should really be a no-brainer."
Some of the symptoms of the coronavirus are similar to that of the flu virus.
As a result, this makes it difficult for parents and health professionals to decipher if a child is suffering from flu or coronavirus without taking a COVID-19 test.
Easily spread
Similarly, both infections tend to attack our respiratory system and are easily spread through coughing and sneezing.
The children's nasal flu vaccine is completely painless and is given as a single spray in each nostril of the child’s nose. Children who have a slight runny nose can still get the vaccine as it absorbs quickly.
While a child will more than likely recover well from a coronavirus infection, there can be more complications when it comes to the influenza illness.
It just makes sense to protect your children against the diseases that we have vaccines for
Professor in immunology at Trinity College Dublin Dr Rachel McLoughlin says: "The last thing any parent wants right now is to be dealing with a sick child that they have to take to hospital in the midst of this pandemic.
"This year, the flu vaccine is being made available free of charge to all children in Ireland between the ages of two and 12 years.
"In this current uncertain world, it just makes sense to protect your children against the diseases that we have vaccines for and one of those is flu," she says.
"We have a safe, and importantly, easy to administer vaccine for children with no needles required, that will protect them from the virus that causes flu.
"A simple squirt up the nose and they are fully protected. Two of my own children had it recently, and we were in and out of the GP surgery in less than five minutes," concludes Rachel.
The HSE and medical experts are keen to point out to parents that you can't get the flu from the flu vaccine.
A very small number of people might experience some mild side-effects, including a runny nose, headache or temperature, which can be treated with over-the-counter paracetamol medicine.
For more information, visit HSE.ie/flu
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