Nasal flu spray delays sorted
THOSE ELIGIBLE URGED TO TAKE VACCINE
DELAYS to the nasal-spray flu vaccine for schoolchildren have been resolved, Public Health England (PHE) said, as it urged all eligible people to get immunised.
Earlier this month, some schools were told to reschedule plans for vaccinating children after AstraZeneca said it needed “to repeat some tests” for the nasal spray.
The problems were not related to the safety or efficacy of the vaccine itself and the adult flu programme was not affected by the delay.
Now, the issue has been resolved and primary school-age children will once again receive their vaccines via rescheduled clinics.
It comes after a virus outbreak led to hundreds of children and staff being off ill with health officials being called to around 60 North East schools last week.
Three County Durham schools – Burnopfield Primary School, Newton Hall Infants’ School and Durham Blue Coat C of E (Aided) Junior School – resorted to closing for a deep clean to help prevent the spread of infection.
Meanwhile, a third of children at the 450-pupil Holystone Primary School, in North Tyneside, were off sick last week and hundreds of pupils were told to stay at home after the winter vomiting bug hit St Mary’s RC Voluntary Aided Primary School in Jarrow.
Other schools affected reporting large numbers of sick children included Kells Lane Primary School in Low Fell, Gateshead as well as Jarrow School and Jarrow Cross C of E Primary School.
Parents of children in high-risk groups, such as those with asthma or diabetes, are still being advised to contact their GP to be seen for the vaccine sooner.
Children who are aged two and three are eligible for the flu vaccine nasal spray via their GP surgery.
People aged 65 and over, children and adults with underlying medical conditions and pregnant women are urged to get their free vaccine in the next few weeks before the flu season peaks, typically in January.
Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at PHE, said: “The flu vaccine is the best defence we have against what can be a serious and fatal illness, and flu season is just around the corner.
“If you are in an eligible group, visit your GP or pharmacist as soon possible to ensure you are protected.”
Professor Stephen Powis, NHS England national medical director, said: “Flu can be extremely serious and even kill in some cases, and getting vaccinated is the best protection against it. “NHS services across England continue to work hard to prepare for the winter season, including staff getting their free flu jab, and now we’re appealing to the public to ‘Help Us, Help You’ by ensuring that they and their eligible children or relatives get vaccinated, now.”
Professor Martin Marshall, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said: “Influenza can be a very unpleasant illness, and while it is not generally a serious illness for most people, for those in at-risk groups, such as young children, elderly people, those with long-term conditions and pregnant women, flu has the potential to trigger life-threatening complications.
“The best defence against the flu is to be vaccinated and we strongly urge all patients in at-risk groups to get vaccinated and for parents to ensure their young children receive their vaccine as soon as possible.”
At-risk groups eligible for the flu vaccine include people with a chronic neurological disease; respiratory, heart, kidney or liver disease; diabetes and the over-65s.
Pregnant women have a much higher risk of serious illness if they get the flu, with possible complications including pneumonia, septic shock and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
If you are in an eligible group, visit your GP or pharmacist as soon possible to ensure you are protected
Dr Mary Ramsay