Protect yourself, protect others – Get vaccinated! SVUH launches 2025 Winter Vaccination Campaign

6th October 2025

St. Vincent’s University Hospital (SVUH) has today launched its annual Winter Vaccination Campaign, urging all staff to get vaccinated against flu and COVID-19 to help protect patients, colleagues and the wider community from serious illness during the busy winter months.

The campaign is being led by SVUH CEO Pauline McGrath, who received her flu vaccine this morning alongside staff from across the hospital. Pauline, who recently returned to Ireland after several years working in New Zealand, said she believes in leading by example.

““Having just moved home from New Zealand, I’ve seen first-hand the significant impact this year’s flu season has had there and that’s typically the same strain we experience here a few months later,” she said. “As healthcare professionals, we have a responsibility to do everything we can to protect those in our care. Getting vaccinated is one of the simplest and most effective ways to do that.

It’s about keeping ourselves well, keeping our teams strong and keeping our patients safe, while ensuring we can continue providing the best possible care for those who depend on us most.”

This year’s national winter vaccination programme includes both the flu and COVID-19 vaccines, which can be given together or at any interval. Both vaccines are available free of charge from participating GPs and pharmacies to those most at risk including healthcare workers, children aged 2 to 17 years, people aged 60 and over, pregnant women and anyone with an underlying medical condition.

According to recent HSE figures, almost 6,500 people were hospitalised with flu last winter, while over 2,000 were admitted with COVID-19. Vaccination remains the best protection against severe illness, hospitalisation and complications such as pneumonia and sepsis.

At SVUH, the call to get vaccinated is both professional and personal. Each winter, frontline healthcare staff are at higher risk of exposure to respiratory illness. By getting vaccinated, staff not only protect themselves but also their patients, many of whom are more vulnerable to serious infection.

“Every vaccinated staff member strengthens our hospital’s resilience,” Pauline McGrath added. “It’s about solidarity and care for each other and for the people we care for.”

The campaign runs across all hospital departments this month, supported by an internal communications drive and on-site vaccination clinics to make it easy for staff to participate. The flu vaccine is safe, effective and remains your best defence this winter.

Protect yourself. Protect others. Keep SVUH safe.

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