Parents urged to get children flu vaccine as infections rise

As reported by the BBC, parents are being urged to get their children a flu vaccine after a 70% jump in hospitalisations of patients under five

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said an 11% fall in vaccine uptake among two and three-year-olds came as flu circulated at higher levels.

All children in this age group can get vaccinated at their GP surgery.

Two doctors from Bristol said their son getting ill with the flu was “every parent’s worst nightmare”.

Covid restrictions have meant most young children have never encountered flu and have no natural immunity to the virus, the UKHSA said.

This increased risk has coincided with the uptake of the flu vaccine among two-year-olds standing at 31% and 33% among three-year-olds.

These figures are down by around 11% compared to the past two years, the UKHSA said.

Dr Conall Watson, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: “Young children are particularly vulnerable to becoming very poorly from flu.

“For the third week running we have seen hospitalisation rates among children under five jump up, with a 70% increase in just the last week.”

Parents are encouraged to contact their GP if they have not received an invite for a nasal spray vaccination for a child aged two or three as of 31 August.

All primary school children and some secondary school children are also eligible for the flu nasal spray this year, which is usually given in school.