Children aged 2 – 11 will be offered the flu vaccine from this autumn as part of a new immunisation programme.
Children aged 2 – 5 who are not at school can make an appointment to get the vaccine at their GP surgery. Parents of children aged 5 – 11 in primary school can expect to receive a consent form this autumn term to allow their child to be vaccinated in school.
With children two to three times more likely to be ill with flu than adults, the programme will help protect children this winter, and reduce the risk of flu being spread to others. The vaccine will be given as a nasal spray, following last years successful pilot where the same vaccine was safely administered to around 130,000 children in Scotland.
Dr Niccola Steedman, the Scottish Government’s Senior Medical Officer launched the campaign stating
Flu can be very unpleasant for children, and in some cases it can develop into more serious health complications such as bronchitis, pneumonia and middle ear infection.Parents can help safeguard their child against flu by taking up the offer of this free vaccine. It’s safe, quick and painless, and offers protection against the types of virus that are most likely to be circulating this winter.
