It is possible, but not certain, that Ireland will face a "twindemic" of Covid-19 and flu this winter, according to the HSE's Chief Clinical Officer.
Colm Henry urged people to sign up to the Covid booster vaccine, as he said it is in the interest of not just individuals, but the population at large, while it also protects the health system.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Dr Henry said while the Omicron variant wreaked havoc over the last few months, there is a higher degree of immunity now because of that surge that" raged" through the population.
He added that there is also a high degree of protection through vaccination and appealed to the public to embrace the Covid and influenza jab campaigns.
Dr Henry acknowledged there is not the same incentive among everyone for a Covid booster compared to before, when there was a "fear" of serious illness or the benefits of having a vaccination.
Dr Henry added that the winter plan will help to reduce the number of people - with a specific focus on older people - attending emergency departments.
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The pandemic prompted an "acceleration" of increasing capacity in the hospital system, he said, which now can be built upon through further focus on "alternative access" to healthcare.
"During the pandemic we've accelerated what was needed in the system, which greatly lacked capacity in terms of additional hospital beds," he said.
"We've also accelerated staffing in our emergency departments to introduce what we called safe staffing levels.
"Rather than having this kind of discussion year-on-year, we look at alternative access to health care."
Earlier this week, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said he is "concerned" about a severe winter flu season this year, adding that Ireland is "potentially looking at a perfect storm" with a combination of Respiratory Syncytial Virus and another Covid wave.
Mr Donnelly said the rates of RSV here are already going up and that officials are monitoring what has been happening in countries such as Australia and New Zealand, which indicate the type of flu that is likely to be circulating.
"What that would mean for us is a lot more people in hospital, and unfortunately as well, a lot of people die whenever there's a severe flu season," he said.
The minister said it comes at a time when presentations at emergency departments are at "the highest ever" level.
for a possible surge in Covid, flu or another virus this winter
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, the World Health Organization's Dr Maria Van Kerhkove Covid-19 remains in an "emergency phase" globally with as many as 15,000 people dying from it every week.
However, she said overall there is a decline in the number of reported deaths from the virus, describing that as "a good sign".
She has warned that health systems are very fragile after years of dealing with the pandemic and they are asking countries to be prepared for a possible surge in Covid, flu or another virus this winter.
She described the Covid virus that is currently circulating as "very intense" but that every country is in a different situation and managing the disease in their own way.
