Flu
Welcome to our comprehensive guide on the Flu Vaccine – your key to staying resilient and safeguarding your family against the seasonal flu. This webpage aims to provide vital information about the flu vaccine, who should receive it, and the numerous benefits of vaccination for both children and adults.
Why the Flu Vaccine Matters: While the flu often resolves on its own, it can pose serious risks, especially for vulnerable populations. Getting the flu vaccine is a crucial step in preventing severe illness and its complications. Our guide covers everything you need to know to make informed decisions about flu vaccination.
Who Should Get the Flu Vaccine?
The flu vaccine is recommended for various groups, including:
- Children aged 2 or 3 on 31 August 2023 (born between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2021)
- All primary school children (Reception to Year 6)
- All secondary school children (Year 7 to Year 11)
- Children aged 2 to 17 with certain long-term health conditions
- Babies and children aged 6 months to 2 years with specific health conditions (given as an injection)
For Adults
- Individuals aged 65 and over (including those who'll be 65 by 31 March 2024)
- Those with certain health conditions
- Pregnant individuals
- People in long-stay residential care
- Carers or main carers for older or disabled persons at risk
- Those living with someone more likely to get a severe infection due to a weakened immune system
- Frontline health and social care workers
Why Children Should Have the Flu Vaccine?
How the Vaccine is Given?
Benefits of the Flu Vaccine
5 reasons your under-5s should have the flu vaccine
Pre-schoolers are excellent at spreading germs! Vaccinating your child helps reduce the chance of others in your family who are higher risk, like grandparents or those with long-term conditions, getting flu.
The nasal spray is painless and easy to have. It contains weakened flu viruses to help your child build immunity and fight off flu. The vaccine is absorbed into the nose really quickly, so even if your child sneezes right after, it still works. For children who can’t have the nasal spray for medical reasons, an injection is available.
The nasal spray helps protect against flu, has been given to millions of children in the UK and worldwide, and has an excellent safety record. In the last few years, the protection that children get from vaccination has been consistently higher than for adults. The vaccine is updated yearly to match flu strains, so we recommend vaccinating yearly, even if vaccinated last year.
Juggling a sick child and work is tough. Vaccinating isn’t just about your child’s health, it’s smart for parents. If your child gets flu, you may have to take time off or find childcare. The nasal spray vaccine means fewer missed workdays and is free on the NHS. When winter is coming, you and your family can be winter strong with the flu vaccine. Book your flu vaccine appointment with your GP or ensure you sign a consent form if sent home from school. Let’s face the flu season together, armed with knowledge and protection. Your family’s wellness is our priority, and the flu vaccine is your powerful ally in staying healthy and resilient.
