Give children flu spray so they don’t infect the family
- Children in the UK should get flu vaccines to stop them infecting their family
- Infants are ‘super-spreaders’ of the illness but vaccine uptake has been low
- Figures reveal around 34,300 died last winter from ‘circulating viral infections’
- All children up to the age of nine are entitled to a free nasal spray vaccination
Colin Fernandez Science Correspondent For The Daily Mail
194
View
comments
Children should receive flu vaccines to stop them infecting their grandparents at Christmas parties, the NHS advised yesterday.
Infants and those in primary schools are ‘super-spreaders’ of the illness, bosses said.
All children up to the age of nine are entitled to a free vaccination given as a nasal spray.
But uptake has been low so far this year. Fewer than one in five of eligible children – or just 18 per cent – have been vaccinated.
All children up to the age of nine are entitled to a free vaccination given as a nasal spray but uptake this year has been slow – just 18 per cent have been vaccinated
With less than a month before Christmas, experts said children should be vaccinated to protect the elderly and others who are vulnerable.
This way they will be less likely to catch the virus in schools or nurseries and then spread it. Influenza can be very serious for older people and can lead to serious complications.
-
The cut-price ambulance crews sent on 999 calls:…
Top surgeons declare war on NHS chiefs amid plans to axe a…
ONS figures reveal around 34,300 died last winter as a result of ‘circulating viral infections’ including flu.
The virus can increase the risk of death in older people and vulnerable groups such as asthma sufferers and pregnant women.
Experts have said that children should be vaccinated to protect the elderly and others who are vulnerable
The long-term effects of being admitted to hospital are particularly damaging for pensioners. Just ten days in a hospital bed leaves them ten years weaker in terms of muscle strength.
As well as children, NHS England and Public Health England are also urging frontline care workers who have contact with vulnerable people to take up the vaccine. It is hoped a £10million investment in flu vaccination will ease the pressures that a mass outbreak could place on health services this winter.
Professor Keith Willett, NHS England’s Medical Director for Acute Care, said: ‘Flu can be spread more easily by children, especially to vulnerable relatives such as older grandparents.
‘With less than a month until family gatherings over the festive season, there’s still time for parents to get their “super-spreader” children vaccinated to help protect elderly relatives over Christmas and before the flu season traditionally reaches its peak.
‘Last year millions of people missed out on their free vaccination and yet it’s one simple, common sense step to help us all stay healthy this winter.’
Dr Paul Cosford, Medical Director at PHE, said: ‘The vaccine is the best protection there is against flu, which causes on average 8,000 deaths a year – many of which occur in the winter months.
‘The nasal spray vaccine last year reduced children’s risk of flu by 65 per cent meaning they were less likely to spread it to relatives.
‘Over the next few weeks ahead of Christmas, we urge parents of eligible children aged two and three to book their vaccine via their GP or local pharmacy.
‘Parents should also give consent for … children to receive the vaccine in school. It’s quick, easy and painless.’
Share or comment on this article
- Pregnant women who are intimidated by activists at…
- The cut-price ambulance crews sent on 999 calls:…
- The north-south divide in Britain’s secondary schools:…
- The food is far too Western, complain detained migrants:…
- Homeless man, 39, is charged with attempted murder of…
- Police probe art consultant mother of Boris’s love child…
- Man sparks a bomb scare after walking into a police…
- Lib Dem leader Vince Cable sparks fury by saying there is…
- Cyber Monday begins with more than 20million Brits set to…
- Facebook is accused of failing to halt the trade of…
- Jeremy Hunt sets his sights on No10 and is lining himself…
- Liam Fox says there can be NO decision on the Irish…
- Labour frontbencher claims Theresa May is ‘no friend of…
- ‘The bulletin tonight could be sparse’: ITV news reporter…
- Daughter whose terminally ill mother ‘never recovered’…
- How Britons pay £160 a quarter on subscriptions we don’t…
- ‘Chennai Six’ British soldiers held in Indian jail for…
- Circus boss who shot dead escaped 31stone tiger on the…
Comments 194
Share what you think
-
Newest -
Oldest -
Best rated -
Worst rated
The comments below have not been moderated.
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Close
Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline?
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual.
Close
Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline?
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual
We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook.
You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.