The HSE has placed orders for 1.35 million doses of the flu vaccine, and it will be also extended to children under the age of 12.

Concerns have been raised about poor uptake of the flu vaccine among healthcare workers and the elderly in recent years, and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has described it as a "big problem" given the possibility of a second wave of COVID-19.

More than 4,300 people were hospitalised with the flu last year.

Dr Doireann O'Leary, GP with MyCorkGP and health blogger, joined us for our weekly medical consultation to explain how the flu vaccine works, who should be getting it and how it might help during the fight against COVID-19.