Less than half of toddlers have taken up free flu vaccination

LESS than half of two and three-yearold children have been given a free vaccination to protect them from flu this winter, it has been revealed.

Public Health Wales has confirmed that just 40% of children in this age group have been given the nasal spray vaccine from their GP.

Children aged two to eight years old on August 31, 2017, are also eligible for a free flu vaccine in Wales.

Pupils in reception and years 1, 2 and 3 should be offered the vaccination by their school’s nursing service – and encouragingly, 68.7% of this age group have been protected.

But health experts say there needs to be a substantial increase in the uptake in preschool-aged children.

Consultant paediatrician Dr Sian Owen, at the Children’s Centre in Dolgellau, said: “This vaccination is really important.

“Young children are particularly at risk of serious complications of influenza because their immune systems are not yet fully developed so they can’t fight off infections like influenza as well as older children and adults can. Influenza is easily spread within groups and can be even more of an issue over Christmas as families and friends come together.

Last winter in Wales, 671 children and adults were diagnosed with influenza in hospital, with 74 admitted to intensive care units.

For most healthy children, influenza can mean several miserable days at home in bed.

However, flu can sometimes result in serious complications, especially for very young children and those with long-term health problems.