THE NHS is urging parents across the South East to catch up on missed flu vaccinations over half term with community clinics.
While many school-aged children will have already received their flu vaccination at school or be booked to get it shortly after half term, NHS England South East is urging parents of those children who missed out on school vaccination sessions to make sure they get protected.
Regional health bosses are also calling on parents to make sure their children’s consent forms are completed ready for those children booked into school vaccination sessions after the break.
Local NHS teams are making getting a catch-up vaccination over the half-term break as easy as possible by hosting community clinics closer to home – with sessions set up in community centres and libraries. Specific sessions are also available for children who are unable to be vaccinated in the school setting, with longer appointments offered in quieter, calmer settings and for those children who are home-schooled. In the Hampshire and Isle of Wight area alone there are 22 community clinics running across the half-term break.
School-aged children with certain health conditions and two-and three-year-olds can also get vaccinated at their local GP practice, with parents of eligible pre-schoolers also able to drop-in to their local pharmacy to get their child vaccinated for the first time ever.
The stepping up of the vaccine programme comes after UKHSA data showed flu cases and hospitalisations are on the rise, with transmission among school-aged children driving the early start to the season.
Andrea Lewis, Regional Chief Nurse for NHS England South East, said: “The data is telling us that flu is hitting us earlier this year, with a growing number of cases in children.
“Vaccination is the best way to ensure children are protected from getting seriously ill with flu and to prevent spreading it to family members, particularly siblings and grandparents.
“Local teams are working overtime to offer different sessions in creative locations and make it as easy as parents to get their child vaccinated.”
She explained: “I’d encourage parents of any children who have missed their school vaccination session to check their child’s options for vaccination as soon as possible, and for those parents with children due to get their vaccinations after the half term break, please make sure their child’s consent form is signed and ready.”
Flu vaccines are available for everyone aged 65 and over, under 65s in clinical risk groups, care home residents and carers, pregnant women, close contacts of those who are immunosuppressed and frontline health and social care workers, as well as children.
Those aged 75 or over, anyone with a weakened immune system, or those living in older adult care homes are also eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine this year, following the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s recommendation.
