The Department of Health is working on plans for a potential severe early influenza season, combined with Covid-19 and other respiratory illnesses the Minister for Health has said.
Stephen Donnelly said that this potential "perfect storm" may mean that a combined influenza and Covid-19 vaccination programme will take place earlier this year, for the Autumn/Winter season.
Mr Donnelly said that in Australia, its winter flu season now has been severe and is higher than the five-year average and happening earlier and the mix of Covid-19 there has caused added challenges.
Normally, the influenza strains in the southern hemisphere arrive in Europe in winter. Minister Donnelly said that preliminary data here shows that the Covid-19 surge in Ireland may have peaked and the numbers being admitted to hospital are now reducing.