Salford toddlers are being offered free flu vaccinations this autumn in a bit to battle soaring illness rates between adults.
More than 6,300 two and three-year-old children could be eligible for the vaccine which will be given in the form of a nasal spray, with no injections involved.
The project is designed to protect entire families and is part of the annual fight against the flu virus which kills up to 4,000 people in Britain every year.
Councillor Margaret Morris, Assistant Mayor for Health and Wellbeing, said: “Young children are not usually hit hard by flu, but remain infectious for much longer than adults.
“The virus is spread by touch, coughs and sneezes so preventing them passing it on will dramatically cut the spread of flu among adults.”
Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable as those who catch flu are at risk of losing their baby or giving birth too early.
Councillor Morris added: “We also hope that pregnant women will be reminded by the campaign to ask their GP for a flu jab.
“Catching flu for them could be a lot more unpleasant than just a week in bed and feeling dreadful for a month until the virus clears.
“Having a jab is the best thing they can do to protect their unborn child and themselves.”
Dr Hamish Stedman, Salford GP and Chair of NHS Salford Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “If you have children aged two and three years old, or you are in one of the ‘at risk’ groups, then your local GP can provide a free flu nasal spray for children or flu jab for adults.
“The vaccine is one of the safest vaccines in the world and is given to millions of people in the UK each year.
“Please make sure you book an appointment and get it done. It is a quick, safe and simple injection that goes a long way to stopping you from catching an illness that at best is very unpleasant and at worst potentially dangerous to vulnerable people.
“I have the jab every year – and I hate needles!”
Anyone wanting their two or three year old to have the free flu vaccination should contact their GP to make an appointment.
Children must be two years old on September 2 to qualify.
Picture courtesy of AJC1 via Flickr, with thanks.
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