UK Health Radio Medical News Update on the Hour - Too Few Toddlers are Having the Seasonal Flu Protection

UK Health Radio Medical News Update on the Hour

Too Few Toddlers are Having the Seasonal Flu Protection

The chief medical officer for England has warned that not enough youngsters are having their flu protection.  The BBC has reported that the latest figures show fewer than one third of two to four-year-olds are getting the nasal spray.

The uptake is down on the same point last year, the first time that children were routinely immunised against flu. Public Health England said that young children were "super-spreaders" and stopping flu in children would protect their parents and grandparents.

Last winter was a relatively mild flu season and health agencies have already warned against the danger of complacency when it comes to getting immunised.

More than two million toddlers are being targeted in vaccination campaigns, but immunisation rate data up to 23 November shows:

·       28.5% of two-year-olds had been immunised, down from 34.1% this time last year

·       30.5% of three-year-olds had been immunised, slightly down from 30.6% this time last year

·       23.9% of four-year-olds had been immunised

Figures also released by Public Health Wales shows that 78% of children there are unvaccinated.  

Part of the problem is thought to be awareness. Two and three-year-olds were vaccinated for the first time last winter and the programme has been extended to four-year-olds this year. But Prof Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer for England, said half of mums were unaware that the vaccine existed or that children needed vaccinating every year. She said: "Flu can be really nasty for toddlers, leading to time off nursery which has a big impact particularly on working mums and dads and sometimes even a stay in hospital.

"They also spread the virus easily and often pass flu to grandparents and other relatives who can become very ill, fast.

"Giving two, three and four year olds the free nasal spray really is in everyone's interests if you want to help avoid a miserable winter for all the family."

The ambition is to gradually extend vaccination to all two to 16-year-olds.

On average, every person with flu passes on the infection to two people every two days.

And children are more likely than most to spread flu. The vaccination programme is aimed at reducing flu in children and in turn cutting cases in at-risk groups.

"Children are very effective at spreading flu. You just need to look at a child with a cold - the dripping nose: they wipe their hand across their face and then touch something."

Symptoms of flu include fever, sore throat, aching muscles and extreme tiredness.

Are you having your toddler immunised or have you decided against it?  We would love to know what you think about this seasonal story.

Amanda Thomas

UK Health Radio Medical News Update on the Hour

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