NHS England encourages parents across Swindon and Wiltshire to protect young children from flu this winter

By Claire Dukes - 6 November 2017

Health and Beauty

With nursery and school terms well underway, parents and guardians of children aged two and three, are encouraged not to put off getting the free flu vaccination for their children.

In Swindon and Wiltshire children aged two and three years old can visit their GP for the nasal spray vaccination to protect them from getting flu this winter, along with children of all ages who have a health condition that puts them at greater risk of contracting the virus are also eligible for the flu vaccine.

Flu can be a very unpleasant illness in children causing fever, 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.

Dr Ardiana Gjini, Screening and Immunisations Lead in Bath & North East Somerset, Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire said: “It is important we protect young children from the flu virus this winter and get them vaccinated now.

"Children can become very poorly if they catch flu, sometimes even causing serious illness. Flu in children also poses a significant impact on the wider family, as parents/guardians may have to take time off work to look after them. The nasal spray vaccine helps children to build up immunity against flu."

The flu vaccine is different every year, because the flu viruses change every year. That’s it’s crucial to get all children vaccinated ahead of every winter season, even if they had the flu vaccination the previous year. The flu vaccine provides the best protection against the strains of flu that are likely to circulate this year and which may be different from last year.

So if your child is age 2 or 3 please make sure you visit your GP to have them receive the nasal spray. If you have children in school years: Reception, one, two, three, and four they are also eligible for the free flu vaccination so please complete the consent form for them to receive the vaccination at school.

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