Public Health England is urging parents whose children have not yet been vaccinated against flu to do so before the winter flu season begins.
The vaccination programme already covers children in Reception, Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3 (aged between 4-8) but now children in Year 4 (aged 8-9) can also get their free flu vaccination, in the form of a nasal spray, at school.
Between September 2016 and 31st January this year, just 58% of Year 1 school children took up the vaccine. That number reduced to 50.4% for Year 2 children and 43.2% for Year 3.
Michael Baker, PHE South East deputy director for healthcare public health, said:
“Vaccinating those who are most likely to get flu both protects them and offers indirect protection to the rest of the population by reducing the amount of virus circulating.
“Flu can be much more dangerous for children than many parents realise and when children get flu they tend to spread it around the whole family.
“The child vaccination programme is really beneficial in reducing the spread of flu to other more vulnerable family members for whom flu can be very serious.”
Chief Medical Officer, Professor Dame Sally Davies, said:
“Any child can catch flu, thousands do every year and some end up in hospital as a result. Parents should not be complacent – the single most effective way to protect your children against flu this winter is to get them vaccinated with the simple nasal spray.
“Children can be super spreaders so getting them vaccinated not only protects them but also those around them.”
The national drive to encourage eligible people to get their flu vaccination is part of Stay Well This Winter, a joint initiative Public Health England and NHS England to help the most vulnerable people prepare for winter and avoid having to visit hospital due to common winter illnesses.
The drive also aims to encourage eligible people with long term health conditions to get the vaccine. People with respiratory diseases like COPD, emphysema or asthma are 7 times more likely to die if they catch flu, and people with cardiovascular problems like chronic heart disease or angina, or who have had a stroke, are 11 times more likely compared to those who don’t.
To get your vaccine or find out if you are eligible, contact your GP, pharmacist or midwife for more information. Visit nhs.uk/staywell for more details on how to help you and your family to stay well this winter.
