Why get your child the nasal spray flu vaccine?
The flu season arrived more than a month earlier than usual, and Australia, which has their flu season earlier than us, have had their worse flu season on record.
Flu is a common infection in babies and children. Children under the age of 5 have one of the highest hospital admission rates for flu compared to other age groups. Flu can be a very unpleasant illness in children, causing fever, extreme tiredness, aching muscles and joints, stuffy nose, dry cough and sore throat. Children usually begin to feel better within about a week.
Complications of flu include acute bronchitis, painful ear infections and pneumonia. Some children may need to go to hospital for treatment, including intensive care.
Annual vaccination of children helps provide protection to each child and reduces the spread of flu to their families and the wider community, protecting others who are at increased risk of becoming seriously ill from flu. The flu vaccine also promotes a healthy working environment in nurseries and childcare settings by reducing the risk of flu being spread to others including staff.
Five reasons for getting your child vaccinated against flu:
1. Protect your child. The vaccine will help protect your child against flu and serious complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia
2. Protect you, your family and friends. Vaccinating your child will help protect more vulnerable friends and family
3. No injection needed. The nasal spray is painless and easy to have
4. It’s better than having flu. The nasal spray helps protect against flu, has been given to millions of children worldwide and has an excellent safety record
5. Avoid costs. If your child gets flu, you may have to take time off work or arrange alternative childcare
Side effects of the nasal vaccine may commonly include a runny or blocked nose, headache, tiredness and some loss of appetite. Serious side effects are uncommon.
When, where, how?
The flu vaccine is free this autumn/winter to all children aged 2 or 3 years old on 31 August 2025, and is available from GPs and some community pharmacies.
It’s a nasal spray which is painless and easy to have.
We’d therefore encourage you to get your child vaccinated, and reduce the risk of serious illness, disruption to work, education and social plans, especially leading up to Christmas. More information is available here: https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/child-flu-vaccine/
If you’d like to discuss this further, please speak to your GP or email HealthProtectionHub@telford.gov.uk
Health Protection Hub, Telford & Wrekin Council, December 2025