Stay well this winter and protect your family against flu

As winter is fast approaching, it’s time to protect your family against flu. The NHS recommends getting vaccinated every year. It reduces the risk of catching flu, and spreading it to others.

Who should have a flu vaccine? 

The flu vaccine is free of charge on the NHS to people who are at risk. You should have the flu vaccine if you:

• Are pregnant
• Are 65 years old or over
• Have certain medical conditions
• Are a carer
• Live in a long-stay residential care home or facility

It is also recommended all children aged two to ten get vaccinated.

 

Getting a flu vaccination if you are pregnant

It’s important to protect yourself and your baby by having a flu vaccination. Vaccination is the best way to help avoid catching flu and the serious related complications it can cause you and your baby. 

What should I do? Talk to your GP, midwife or pharmacist for more information. The best time to have the vaccine is from the beginning of October to the end of November. It doesn’t matter how many months pregnant you are.

 

Getting a flu vaccination for your children 

Your child’s GP or school should contact you about getting them vaccinated before winter.

• The nasal spray for children is painless and easy to have.
• It helps protect against flu, and has a good safety record.
• It has few side effects, most commonly getting a runny nose after the vaccination for a few days.

The vaccine will help protect your child against flu and serious complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Vaccinating your child will also help protect your family and friends.

Children aged 2 and 3 on 31 Aug 2019 (born between 1 Sept 2015 & 31 Aug 2017)

The nasal spray flu vaccine is available from your GP and is free for all healthy two and three-year-olds. Children are given the vaccine at their doctors’ surgery, usually by the practice nurse.

What should I do? Contact your GP if your child is aged two or three years old and you haven’t heard from their GP by early November

Primary school children

Children attending Primary School are offered the nasal spray whilst they are in school.

What should I do? If your child is at primary school, the school will send you a consent form. Please sign and return it.

Children aged from 6 months and up to 17 years old long-term health conditions

If you child is in a high-risk group for flu they will be offered a flu vaccine. For example, if they have a respiratory or neurological condition or are receiving treatment that weakens their immune system

If you child is aged between 6 months and 2, they will be offered an injected flu vaccine, because the nasal spray is not licensed for children under 2.

What should I do? If you have not heard from your GP by early November 2019, contact them to make an appointment.

The flu vaccine isn’t suitable for babies under the age of six months.

 

Simple tips to prevent spreading germs 

It’s very normal for children to get eight or more colds every year…yikes! As their immune systems are still developing, it means they can’t fight off viruses as well as we can. Plus, children are more likely to get colds and coughs as they tend to touch everything in sight and then their face or mouth.

Here are some really basic tips to help reduce the risk of spreading colds and germs:

• Wash your hands often with warm water and soap – especially before meals, after the toilet and after you cough or blow your nose
• Hand washing for 20 seconds is recommended, which probably feels like a long time to a child so maybe have a specific song to sing whilst washing!
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue– this keeps the germs off your hands and stops them spreading into the air
• Throw away used tissues as quickly as possible
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
• Limit contact with family members who are ill as much as possible
• Avoid sharing flannels, towels, dishes/utensils and toys

Flu is much worse than a cold, so in addition to the above tips, it is highly recommended you get a flu vaccination every year.

 

Useful information

If you want to find out more on the flu jab for you or your child there are some useful links below.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/flu-jab-vaccine-pregnant/www.nhs.uk/child-flu

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