Today I watched the Share Good Times not Flu documentary on youtube that features Dr Ranj. The aim of the documentary is to give parents more information about the flu vaccinations. You can watch the whole documentary below.
• In an average flu season in England, flu affects up to 10% of children aged 0 – 14 years
• Children are the main transmitters of flu and pass the virus on for longer than adults. For every 10 children who missed school because of flu-associated illness, eight household members subsequently became ill
• In 2013/2014, a total of 904 admissions to intensive care were reported as influenza including 98 deaths
One thing that was a real surprise for me was that the NHS now offer free routine vaccinations to all children ages 2, 3 and 4 as well as at risk children of any age 5 and 6. It seems however that parents are not taking the NHS up on the offer and whether this is through not knowing about it or having questions regarding the programme I believe that this is something that really should change.
Getting young children vaccinated doesn’t only prevent them from catching flu but it also helps to prevent flu spreading within families and therefore helps to protects the elderly and the vulnerable. We know many families at the hospital who dread this time of year as their children are not able to be vaccinated and yet catching the influenza virus can be potentially fatal to them. They rely on community immunisation and that is not just for flu but all the other vaccinations too.
Did you know that for most children the vaccination is not a jab but is a nasal spray which means no needles will be used. Two squirts up the nose and the child will be protected.
I don’t have children in that age group and we have already had our vaccinations but I really do urge you to think about protecting your child, your family and your community.
Dr Ranj Singh said: “We shouldn’t forget that flu can be a potentially deadly disease and if not controlled, can spread fiercely.”