Protect your kids this winter

DOCTOR’S ADVICE: Dr Chintal Patel said that flu can be much more dangerous for children than parents realise

South Asian Parents urged to vaccinate their children against flu

Public Health England (PHE) is encouraging parents and carers to help protect their children from flu this winter, as the largest ever programme vaccinating children against it gets underway.

This year, the vaccine is being offered to two to four-year-olds, those in school years 1 and 2, and is being extended to school Year 3, helping protect more than four million children against flu – 600,000 more than last year.

But with a survey of parents of eligible children showing nearly four out of 10 are unaware of the nasal spray, a campaign has been launched to raise awareness of flu vaccination among parents and at risk groups, such as pregnant women.

Although 55 per cent of parents understand the need for their children to be vaccinated every year, nearly one in eight have either never given vaccination any thought, or report that the main thing putting them off vaccination is that their children rarely get flu.

Neeshat Wadud, a new mum, said: “Being pregnant is a wonderful time, but it can also be worrying. Whilst trying to enjoy my pregnancy I had niggling concerns in the back of my head about all the things that might go wrong.

“When I was offered the flu jab, I did not hesitate to get it done. It was a relief to know that I could protect myself and my unborn baby from the often dangerous symptoms that flu can cause in pregnancy.”

Nearly a third of parents think flu is just a severe cold in children when it can be a more unpleasant and serious illness.

Children have the same symptoms as adults including fever, chills, aching muscles, headaches and a sore throat.

RECOMMENDS THE JAB: Neeshat Wadud was vaccinated during pregnancy to protect herself and her unborn baby

More than one in three parents think children recover from flu in a couple of days. In fact, sometimes children need up to a week in bed before they are on the mend. Some children develop a very high fever or complications from flu, such as bronchitis or pneumonia.

Children in the under-five age group are also more at risk of being admitted to hospital due to flu than any other age group.  

Ensuring that young ones are vaccinated can reduce the spread of this infectious disease amongst the whole family, protecting those who are vulnerable like grandparents.

It also helps protect those most at risk in the community, such as people with long-term health conditions.

Flu can be particularly dangerous for those with long-term health conditions. These include chronic respiratory disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis or emphysema; heart, kidney or liver disease; chronic neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy; and diabetes.

It is estimated that several million people get flu each winter, with the virus leading to more than 2,000 NHS intensive care admissions across the UK last year.

The free flu vaccine is also available for pregnant women. Research shows that around four in 10 of pregnant women got their jab last year.

Pregnancy naturally weakens the body’s immune system, and as a result it can cause serious complications for both mother and her unborn baby.

Despite this, a fifth of pregnant women who didn’t get vaccinated said they didn’t get the free flu jab because they thought, mistakenly, it might harm their baby.

Dr Chintal Patel, The Belgravia Surgery, said: “Flu can be much more dangerous for children than parents realise. Data shows that children under the age of five are most likely to be admitted to hospital for flu compared to any other age group.  

“The single best way to protect your child is to get them vaccinated. The nasal spray is a quick and easy way to help prevent young children catching flu.

“I would urge all South Asian parents with children aged two to seven to get their children vaccinated.”

Visit www.nhs.uk/staywell for more details on how to help you and your family to stay well this winter.