13th October 2023
As we approach what is known as ‘flu season’, Rukeya Miah, Head of Midwifery, Family and Women’s Health Group at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, explains in this Voices blog why it is so important for health visitors to discuss the benefits of the free flu vaccine for young children.
Rukeya Miah, Head of Midwifery, Family and Women’s Health Group at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
We all know that flu can be a horrible illness in young children with serious complications, such as sepsis and pneumonia. Children aged under 5 have one of the highest hospitalisation rates for flu. Last year was a particularly bad flu season for children with over 6,000 under 5’s hospitalised and many more needing care in accident and emergency.
The flu vaccine can help stop this happening again this year – it reduces a child’s chance of needing hospital care for flu by around 65% and can help stop the virus spreading to more vulnerable family and friends, such as babies and grandparents.
In your role as a health visitor, we would encourage you to:
- Highlight the benefits of the flu vaccine in young children
- Remind parents that the vaccine has a good safety record in children and that side effects of the nasal spray are typically mild (if present at all)
- Explain that the vaccine is given as a quick and painless nasal spray in most cases
- Encourage parents to get young children vaccinated ahead of the colder months when flu viruses can spread more easily due to us spending more time indoors
- Emphasise that children need to have the flu vaccine every year to make sure that they are protected, as the flu viruses can vary each winter
- Check that parents have made an appointment with their GP/signed the school consent form
As a reminder, young children that are eligible for the free flu vaccine include:
- those aged 6 months and over that are in an at risk group
- those aged 2- or 3-years old on 31 August 2023 (born between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2021)
- all primary school children
The nasal spray flu vaccine is the most effective vaccine for children. It contains a highly processed form of porcine gelatine – if this is not accepted in medical products by the family you are working with, please advise them that an alternative is available and they can discuss this with their GP practice team. Children aged under 2 will be given the flu vaccine injection instead of the nasal spray.
Whilst you are on the topic of vaccinations, it may be a good opportunity to remind parents about the other routine vaccinations their child is entitled to. These help protect them against preventable diseases like measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus and polio. Encourage them to catch up on any missing vaccinations if they are not up-to-date.
Please visit the NHS Child Flu webpage for more information
