Free flu vaccination offered for 2-6 year olds
Parents of two to six year olds are being urged by healthcare professionals at Hywel Dda University Health Board to get their children vaccinated against flu this winter, to protect them from catching, and also from spreading, this potentially debilitating illness.
While some parents believe flu does not severely affect children, figures collected by Public Health Wales show that for the past few years, children have been admitted to hospital and intensive care units with flu as well as adults.
This year, the routine children’s flu vaccine programme has been extended to include five and six year olds so all those between the ages of two and three (age on 31 August 2015) and children in reception class, year 1 and year 2 in school are now eligible.
Two and three years were first offered the vaccine two years ago, followed by four year olds last year.
While some parents believe flu does not severely affect children, figures collected by Public Health Wales show that for the past few years, children have been admitted to hospital and intensive care units with flu as well as adults.
This year, the routine children’s flu vaccine programme has been extended to include five and six year olds so all those between the ages of two and three (age on 31 August 2015) and children in reception class, year 1 and year 2 in school are now eligible.
Two and three years were first offered the vaccine two years ago, followed by four year olds last year.
The vaccine for children is given as a simple nasal spray and those aged two and three will receive it at their GP practice while those in reception class, year one and year two, will receive the spray from health professionals at school.
The school will require consent from parents before administering the vaccine to any child.
Lesley Hill, Senior Nurse Health Visiting and School Nursing for Hywel Dda University Health Board explains why it’s so important that eligible children receive the flu nasal spray vaccine.
She said: "We are encouraging children in eligible groups to be vaccinated to prevent the spread of flu in schools and the wider community.
"Flu is common in children, causing fever, aching muscles, headache, tiredness, blocked nose, cough and a sore throat, lasting up to a week. Often children who get flu feel very unwell and for some it can cause serious illness. Complications can include bronchitis, pneumonia and ear infections. Some children are so ill they are admitted to hospital which can be very frightening for the child.
"It is an infectious disease which can also be harmful to vulnerable adults, pregnant women and the elderly."
For most healthy children, influenza (or ‘flu’) usually means several miserable days at home in bed, however, parents should be aware that flu can sometimes result in serious complications, especially for young children or those with long term health problems, such as asthma, for whom it can even be life threatening.
Dr Richard Roberts, Head of the Vaccine Preventable Disease Programme at Public Health Wales, said, “The flu vaccination for most children is given as a nasal spray, so there are no injections. It is quick, safe and completely pain free.
“Even if a child gets a runny nose or sneezes immediately after the spray, they will still be protected.”
The Beat Flu campaign, which is led by Public Health Wales, aims to ensure that the people who need it most get protection each year against the flu. This includes everyone aged 65 and over, people with certain chronic long term health conditions and pregnant women.
Health and social care workers are also encouraged to have flu vaccination to protect them and the people they care for.
Each year the flu viruses that circulate can change so vaccines are also changed to match them. The flu virus is spread easily via droplets which are sprayed into the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
The school will require consent from parents before administering the vaccine to any child.
Lesley Hill, Senior Nurse Health Visiting and School Nursing for Hywel Dda University Health Board explains why it’s so important that eligible children receive the flu nasal spray vaccine.
She said: "We are encouraging children in eligible groups to be vaccinated to prevent the spread of flu in schools and the wider community.
"Flu is common in children, causing fever, aching muscles, headache, tiredness, blocked nose, cough and a sore throat, lasting up to a week. Often children who get flu feel very unwell and for some it can cause serious illness. Complications can include bronchitis, pneumonia and ear infections. Some children are so ill they are admitted to hospital which can be very frightening for the child.
"It is an infectious disease which can also be harmful to vulnerable adults, pregnant women and the elderly."
For most healthy children, influenza (or ‘flu’) usually means several miserable days at home in bed, however, parents should be aware that flu can sometimes result in serious complications, especially for young children or those with long term health problems, such as asthma, for whom it can even be life threatening.
Dr Richard Roberts, Head of the Vaccine Preventable Disease Programme at Public Health Wales, said, “The flu vaccination for most children is given as a nasal spray, so there are no injections. It is quick, safe and completely pain free.
“Even if a child gets a runny nose or sneezes immediately after the spray, they will still be protected.”
The Beat Flu campaign, which is led by Public Health Wales, aims to ensure that the people who need it most get protection each year against the flu. This includes everyone aged 65 and over, people with certain chronic long term health conditions and pregnant women.
Health and social care workers are also encouraged to have flu vaccination to protect them and the people they care for.
Each year the flu viruses that circulate can change so vaccines are also changed to match them. The flu virus is spread easily via droplets which are sprayed into the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Contact with contaminated hands or surfaces can also spread infection.
It can spread rapidly, especially in closed communities such as hospitals, residential homes and, of course, playgroups.
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