Parents warned over kids’ flu risk
MORE than half of parents of young children in Halton at risk of serious illness or death from flu are failing to get them vaccinated against the virus.
Figures from Public Health England (PHE) reveal 111 two to four-year-olds in Runcorn and Widnes were considered at particular risk from flu due to existing health conditions and went unvaccinated in 2016-17.
That works out as 54% of the 206 ‘at risk’ children in that age group.
‘At risk’ means a person is in danger of developing life-threatening illness if they catch the flu and includes people with chronic liver, heart or respiratory disease, or conditions such as immunosuppression and diabetes.
There are a total of 2,187 children considered at risk in the rest of the Liverpool City Region, of whom 1,070 received the vaccine last flu season.
Uptake in Knowsley was particularly poor, with 59% of at risk children going unvaccinated – more than 143 in total.
The vaccination programme was extended to all two to fouryear-olds in 2013-14 – not just those considered at particular risk – in order to help prevent the disease from spreading.
Just 34% of eligible children in Merseyside excluding Halton who are not in a clinical risk group were immunised, leaving more than 29,000 susceptible to catching and passing on flu.
By comparison, around 74% of those in the region aged 65 and over – another group deemed at risk of serious illness from flu – were vaccinated. ●
Across all those under 65 in the area who fall into a clinical risk group, the uptake was also slightly higher than it was for children – around 52% received their vaccines.
PHE’s acting head of respiratory Richard Pebody said: “The uptake of the vaccine in children in clinical risk groups is higher than last year, which is encouraging.
“However, just under half remain unvaccinated and we urge parents to take up the offer of vaccination on their children’s behalf to give them the best possible protection from flu.”