Warning to parents over flu jab for kids
The Public Health Agency says a drop in childhood vaccination rates may have contributed to an increase in flu deaths last year.
The Public Health Agency (PHA) is calling on parents of pre-school and primary school children to get their kids vaccinated against flu. The health experts say it help protect not only them but also those around them, particularly older grandparents or relations with an underlying health condition.
Last year's seasonal flu outbreak was the worst seen since 2009. There were 119 cases of flu treated in intensive care/ high dependency units - more than twice as many as the previous year. There were also 22 deaths in our hospitals where a diagnosis of influenza was confirmed.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride said: “Last flu season, levels of the illness were higher than in previous years and uptake of the childhood vaccine was down slightly. Flu vaccination plays a vital role in limiting the impact of flu not only on individuals, but it also helps to reduce the spread of the virus among families and in communities.
“We are urging parents to get the free flu vaccine for their children to provide them with the best line of defence against the illness and to help protect their wider family and friends. It’s a quick, painless spray up their nose – just two seconds to provide them with the maximum protection against flu over the winter.”
The PHA says the flu virus spreads easily and quickly, infecting both adults and children, but children in particular can increase the spread of the flu virus in the community. Evidence shows the flu vaccine for children can provide direct protection to them and will also reduce the amount of flu circulating, thus providing indirect protection for older people and individuals with underlying health conditions.
Dr Lucy Jessop, Consultant in Health Protection at the PHA, explained: “The flu virus spreads through the air when people cough and sneeze without covering their nose and mouth, and because young children don’t always cover their noses or mouths when coughing or sneezing, they can spread the flu virus very quickly, making them ‘super-spreaders’.
“Because the virus spreads easily, pre-school and primary school children are being offered the flu vaccine, giving them the best protection and also helping to protect more vulnerable members of their families too. We would ask parents not to forget to sign and send back the consent form to school for your primary school children, and to make an appointment with your GP for pre-school vaccination, or they may miss out.
“Everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated against flu should see it as a positive step in protecting their health and the health of others around them.
“We are fortunate to have a comprehensive flu vaccination programme, but the benefits may only be realised if a high proportion of the groups who can get the vaccine actually take up the offer.”
Pre-school children in Northern Ireland aged two years and over are eligible to receive the free flu vaccine through their GP. Meanwhile, children in primaries one to seven will be offered the vaccine in school. In addition, people over 65, ‘at risk’ children and adults, and pregnant women, can receive the vaccine at their doctor’s surgery.
Most children receive the vaccine via a quick and painless nasal spray.
Jessop added: “Traditionally uptake rates for flu vaccination are high in Northern Ireland; however last year we saw a slight drop. We mustn’t become complacent – we need to maintain high rates of uptake every year to maximise protection for our community. It is important that everyone who is eligible for vaccination – whether they are two or 102 – takes up the offer."