Health chiefs are worried as uptake rates of highly effective flu jab are below target. This, Bernard Gloster, head of the HSE, said indicated the flu virus was likely to peak at a time of key socialisation: during the weeks of Christmas and new year. Kim Price, clinical nurse manager at Temple Street Hospital’s emergency department, said they were seeing “huge numbers of patients presenting”. The main issue for health officials is whether hospitals will be able to withstand the pressure in coming weeks. All of these things combined – a highly virulent strain, lower-than-optimal vaccine uptake, an ageing population and bed shortages – paint a daunting image of how much pressure the hospital system could be under this Christmas.

Source: The Irish Times December 10, 2025 21:12 UTC