Children’s Flu Vaccine
Children’s Flu Vaccine
All you need to know about
Children’s Flu Vaccine
The nasal spray children’s flu vaccine is both safe and effective. Every year, it is given to youngsters to help protect them from the flu.
The influenza virus is what causes the flu. For children, it can be a very uncomfortable sickness. It can also cause significant complications including bronchitis and pneumonia.
Children are readily infected and transmit the virus. Vaccinating them also protects those who are susceptible to the flu, such as infants and the elderly.
If you have any vaccination-related questions, you can contact:
- Seek help from your doctor’s office or other healthcare specialists.
- To learn more about why vaccination is safe and important, go here.
Who should have the nasal spray flu vaccine
On the NHS, the nasal spray children’s flu vaccine is free for:
- Children who will be 2 or 3 years old on August 31, 2021, and who were born between September 1, 2017, and August 31, 2019.
- All students in primary school (reception to year 6).
- All secondary school students in years 7 through 11.
- Long-term health conditions affect children from 2 to 17 years.
If your kid is between the ages of 6 months and 2 years old and has a long-term health condition that puts them at risk for flu, they will be given a flu vaccination injection rather than the nasal spray.
This is due to the nasal spray’s lack of approval for children under the age of two.
For children aged 2 to 17, nasal spray immunisation provides the best protection. If the nasal spray vaccine is not suitable for them, they will be offered the flu vaccine injection.
COVID-19 vaccine for children
Both the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine may be available to some youngsters. These are two different vaccines, and each one requires separate consent.
Both vaccines can be given to children at the same time.
Children with long-term health conditions
Children with long-term health issues, such as diabetes or heart disease, are more susceptible to the flu.
It is critical that they are immunised.
Where to have the flu vaccine
Child’s age
Where to have the flu vaccine
From 6 months until 2 years
(with long-term condition)
GP surgery
From 2 years until the child
starts primary school
GP surgery
All children at primary school
School
Year 7 to year 11 secondary school children
School
Children in reception to year 11
(with long-term condition)
School or GP surgery
Home-schooled children
(same ages as reception to year 11)
Community clinic
The local healthcare staff should invite home-schooled youngsters to get vaccinated. If you haven’t heard from them, talk to your child’s doctor about where they should get vaccinated.
Children in school who have a long-term health problem
If you want, you can have the vaccine administered at your doctor’s office rather than at school.
If your child is not in reception through year 11, request that the immunisation be given at the GP’s office.
What if my child is sick on that particular day?
If your kid has the following illnesses, you may be requested to wait until they are better before getting the nasal spray flu vaccine:
- A blocked or runny nose – could prevent the vaccination from entering their system.
- A very hot temperature
How the nasal spray flu vaccine is given
The children’s flu vaccine is administered as a spray that is sprayed into each nostril. It’s a simple and painless procedure.
Even if your child has a runny nose, sneezes, or blows their nose, the children’s flu vaccine will still work.
If your child is under the age of 9 and has both, they will be given two doses:
- A long-term health condition that makes them more susceptible to the flu.
- I’d never gotten a flu shot before.
These doses are separated by four weeks.
How effective is the nasal spray flu vaccine?
The nasal spray children’s flu vaccine provides the best protection for children against the flu.
The flu vaccine may take up to two weeks to take effect.
Children who catch the flu after being vaccinated are less likely to become critically ill or require hospitalisation.
Side effects of the children’s flu vaccine
The flu vaccine for children delivered by nasal spray is quite safe. The majority of side effects are minor and short-lived, such as:
- A clogged or runny nose
- A throbbing headache
- Tiredness
- A decrease in appetite
If your child receives the injectable flu vaccine, they may experience the following side effects:
- A painful arm (or thigh) where the injection was administered
- A small temperature increase
- Muscles that hurt
These negative effects normally only last a day or two.
What’s in the nasal spray flu vaccine?
Small amounts of weakened flu viruses are contained in the nasal spray children’s flu vaccine. In youngsters, they do not induce the flu.
Due to the fact that the primary flu viruses might change from year to year, a fresh nasal spray vaccine is required each year.
Fluenz Tetra is a brand of nasal spray flu vaccine offered in the United Kingdom.
Pork gelatine is present in trace amounts in the nasal spray vaccination. If this isn’t a possibility, discuss it with your child’s nurse or doctor.
Instead, your youngster may be able to receive an injectable vaccine.
The Fluenz Tetra children’s flu vaccine nasal spray patient information leaflet on the EMC website has a complete list of components.