With nursery and school terms well underway, parents and guardians across the Isle of Wight are urged to ensure their children are vaccinated against flu.
This year, for the first time, all primary school children, as well as 2 and 3-year-olds, are offered the nasal spray on the NHS.
Clare Simpson, Public Health Consultant for Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said:
“We know that many parents are great at taking up the offer of a flu vaccine for their children, but this year in Hampshire and Isle of Wight we want to do even better. Last year uptake improved for two- and three-year-olds, but if all eligible children are vaccinated this year we could significantly reduce the number of people getting flu in the wider community.
“The flu season is already under way and it is a serious illness that can be deadly for the most vulnerable. Children are ‘super spreaders’, but the vaccination not only protects them but also more vulnerable members of the community, such as the elderly or those with health conditions, from a potentially horrible illness.
“This year, all two- and three-year-olds and every primary school child will be offered it. So, please fill in the consent form for your primary school-aged children or contact your GP surgery if you have a two or three-year-old.”
Children of all ages with a health condition that put them at greater risk of flu, like asthma, are also eligible for the vaccine. The child-friendly nasal spray, delivers a simple squirt into each nostril, making administration to this age group quick and easy.
Clare added:
“Flu can be a very unpleasant illness in children causing fever, a stuffy nose, dry cough, sore throat, aching muscles and joints, and extreme tiredness. This can often last several days. Some children can get a very high fever, sometimes without the usual flu symptoms, and may need to go to hospital for treatment. Serious complications of flu include a painful ear infection, acute bronchitis, and pneumonia.”
It is important to get children vaccinated even if they had the flu vaccination last year. The flu vaccine provides protection against the strains of flu that are likely to circulate this year, and which may be different from last year.
Who can get the vaccine?
This year, the flu vaccine is available to:
- All children aged 2 and 3, provided they were aged 2 or 3 on 31st August 2019, via the GP practice
- All children in primary schools, aged 4 to 10, via their school
- All other children with a health condition that puts them at greater risk from flu
I think that this is an excellent initiative. I just wonder why this nasal vaccine is not available through pharmacies to increase accessibility ?
GP surgeries are struggling with workloads already and it is therefore illogical to add yet another initiative to further burden them.
Working parents in particular find it hard to get GP surgery appointments at the best of times and in the case of flu vaccine for their children the time factor is critical . It needs administering at the earliest opportunity before the flu season hits .
Pharmacies are the most accessible branch of the NHS. They are the obvious voice to provide this essential service
It is available in Boots pharmacy you can book an appointment online.
The Drs offer the vaccine to 2 and three year olds. Children four to eleven are offered it at school