Why is the flu vaccine important for your child?

Flu season is upon us again and many parents will be deciding whether their child should have the flu vaccine. We asked the Trust's School Aged Immunisation Team to tell us more about the vaccine and why you should consider it for your child.

Like many Immunisation Team nurses across the country, we will be giving the flu vaccine to primary school children in Years 1, 2 and 3 over the next few months.

  

As a parent or guardian, you may have already received a letter inviting your child to have the vaccine, but may have concerns about whether it’s safe, if there are any side effects or why your child needs the vaccine. We've put together a few common questions about the nasal flu vaccine and why it's important to consider it for your child.

The flu is a very bad cold, isn’t it?

Flu is different from the common cold. It is a common highly infectious viral illness spread by coughs and sneezes. It can be a very unpleasant illness for children with potentially serious complications, including bronchitis and pneumonia.

What is the new nasal spray flu vaccine?

The children’s flu vaccine is offered as a yearly nasal spray (sprayed into the nose), not an injection, to young children to protect them from flu. It is painless and easy to have and has been proven to be more effective in young children than an injection. The vaccine contains live but weakened flu viruses that do not cause flu in children. It will help your child build up immunity to flu in a similar way as natural infection, but without the symptoms.

Is it safe?

The nasal spray helps protect against flu, has been given to millions of children worldwide and has an excellent safety record.

Are there any side effects?

The nasal spray flu vaccine has very few side effects. The main one is getting a runny nose or blocked nose, headache, general tiredness and some loss of appetite after vaccination for a few days.

Why you should consider giving your child the flu vaccine?

Giving your child the flu vaccine will:

• help protect your child against flu
• mean the infection will be less able to spread from them to their younger brothers, sisters, and other family members including parents and grandparents, or carers and the wider population
• protect others that are vulnerable to flu, such as babies, older people, pregnant women and people with serious long-term illnesses
• help you avoid having to take time off work or other activities because you are ill or need to look after your sick child

Preventing the spread of flu

Children spread flu because they generally don't use tissues properly or wash their hands. If they get flu they can remain infectious for longer than adults and they are also more likely to pass on the infection.

You can help stop your child or yourself catching flu or spreading it to others with good hygiene measures.

• ·Always wash your hands regularly with soap and warm water
• Regularly clean surfaces such as your computer keyboard, telephone and door handles to get rid of germs

• Use tissues to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze
• Put used tissues in a bin as soon as possible
• You can also help stop the spread of flu by avoiding unnecessary contact with other people while you're infectious. You should stay off work or school until you're feeling better

As with all immunisations, flu vaccinations for children are optional. Remember, though, that this vaccine will protect them from what can be an unpleasant illness, as well as stopping them spreading flu to vulnerable friends and relatives.

For further information on the flu vaccine read ‘Protecting your child against flu.’

Nottinghamshire Healthcare offers the flu vaccine to children across Nottinghamshire County and Nottingham City.

If you want to discuss any concerns around the nasal flu vaccine or you would like more information about when and how your child will be vaccinated, please contact the School Aged Immunisation Team on 0115 8835055 or email schoolagedimmunisationteam@nottshc.nhs.uk