October 2016
Featured in this insight: Electricity, Medical & healthcare, Children & young people
One third of parents unaware of the free nasal vaccination for children, survey finds: According to a small-scale survey of 526 parents by Public Health England, 37 per cent admitted that they were not aware of the free nasal spray flu vaccination which is available to children aged two to four years old and those in year one and three at school.
In the biggest ever drive to vaccinate children against the flu, parents are being urged to take their children for vaccination this winter. Public Health England have claimed that four million children are going to be offered a flu vaccination this year, which is an increase of 600,000 on 2015.
The survey by Public Health England also revealed that close to one in eight (or 13 per cent) of parents have never considered taking their child for a flu vaccination and a further 12 per cent said that the main thing deterring them from taking their child for a flu vaccination is the fact that their child does not fall ill with the flu.
Public Health England have claimed that making sure that youngsters are vaccinated against the flu could decrease the spread of the infectious disease amongst families, which in turn will protect vulnerable individuals, such as grandparents.
The organisation also states that flu can be especially dangerous to people with long-term health complaints such as, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic respiratory disease, bronchitis or emphysema, diabetes, multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy and heart, kidney or liver disease.
One health practitioner who is supporting the campaign, Stay Well This Winter, Dr Ellie Cannon, said that getting a flu vaccine is the most effective way to help protect people from catching the flu. She also urges all parents aged between two and seven years old to take their child for vaccination and not to put it off.
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