Respiratory infections such as flu, COVID-19 and other viral infections can spread easily in healthcare settings.
This guidance explains what healthcare workers should do to help protect patients, colleagues and themselves.
It includes information about:
- vaccines
- testing and when to stay at home
- when to wear a facemask or other personal protective equipment (PPE)
Vaccines for healthcare workers
Vaccination helps protect healthcare workers and their families, colleagues and patients from respiratory infections such as influenza (flu).
Flu vaccine
Healthcare workers should get the flu vaccine each year. The best time to get the vaccine is in October, before flu starts to spread in healthcare settings.
Getting the flu vaccine will:
- give you the best available protection against the serious complications of flu
- reduce the risk of spreading flu to loved ones, colleagues and patients who may be more vulnerable to serious illness
COVID-19 vaccine
You should get the COVID-19 vaccine if you are a healthcare worker who is:
- aged 60 or older
- at risk of serious illness (includes those with underlying medical conditions or weak immune systems)
If you are a healthcare worker aged 60 or older or with an underlying medical condition, you should get a COVID-19 vaccine once a year, ideally in autumn.
If you are a healthcare worker with a weak immune system, you should get a COVID-19 vaccine twice a year, ideally in spring and in autumn.
Any healthcare worker who wants a COVID-19 vaccine can get one, ideally in autumn. You should wait at least 3 months since your last COVID-19 vaccine or SARS-CoV-2 infection before getting vaccinated.
Flu and COVID-19 vaccines are available free of charge for healthcare workers. You can get both vaccines at the same time. Vaccines may be available from your workplace, as well as your GP and participating pharmacies.
Find a pharmacy offering flu and COVID-19 vaccines
Testing for respiratory infections
The HSE no longer supplies COVID-19 antigen test kits.
If you've been advised to take a test, you can use COVID-19 antigen tests bought in a pharmacy or shop.
Clinical settings
Healthcare services should follow current HPSC acute respiratory infection guidance.
Testing should only be done when it is:
- clinically needed
- required in a particular setting
- part of managing an outbreak
If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection
If you have symptoms of COVID-19 or another respiratory infection:
- stay at home while you feel unwell
- avoid contact with others, particularly people at higher risk of severe illness
- return to work only when your symptoms have fully or mostly improved for at least 48 hours
For most people, symptoms take up to 5 days to fully or mostly go away, but recovery can vary.
If you test positive for COVID-19
A positive test result does not change the general advice. If you test positive for COVID-19, you should:
- stay at home while you feel unwell
- return to work only when your symptoms have fully or mostly improved for at least 48 hours
If you work with immunocompromised or highly vulnerable patients, ask your line manager for a risk assessment before returning.
If your test is negative
A negative result does not always rule out infection.
You should still:
- stay at home while you feel unwell
- return to work 48 hours after symptoms have fully or mostly improved
- make sure you feel well enough to perform your duties safely
If you work with immunocompromised or highly vulnerable patients, you should still ask your line manager for a risk assessment before returning.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and facemasks
Healthcare workers should follow standard infection prevention and control precautions in all settings. Use local risk assessments to decide when PPE and facemasks are needed.
Healthcare staff should wear a surgical mask or respirator mask in settings where:
- patients have suspected or confirmed respiratory illness
- infection prevention and control teams advise that patients with respiratory illness may be present
Before carrying out treatment or interacting with a patient or service user, staff should carry out a point of care risk assessment
Point of Care Risk Assessment (PCRA) (PDF, 812 KB, 1 page)
You should carry out hand hygiene in all cases to protect service users and yourself.
WHO 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene (PDF, 338 KB, 1 page)
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