Free nasal spray flu vaccination for young children

Parents in Oxfordshire are being urged to have their young children vaccinated against the flu this winter.

Children aged two and three can have a free, quick and painless NHS nasal spray vaccine at their GP surgery.

In addition, primary school children in Oxfordshire can have the nasal spray vaccine via the school nurse service.

Dr Ed Capo-Bianco, Clinical Locality Director at Oxfordshire CCG, said; "Flu can be serious for young children, so help protect them from the illness with one simple nasal spray. It is free, fast and painless. Children are also super-spreaders of the flu; by vaccinating them we can reduce the risk of transmission to frail older people and those in 'at risk' groups.

Ed said: "I also urge parents or carers to give consent for their child to have the nasal spray flu vaccine if they are attending primary school."

A free NHS flu vaccine is available for the following groups.

• People aged 65 years and over
• Patients aged from six months to 65 years in clinical 'at risk' groups (see below)
• Pregnant women
• Children in primary school
• People in long-stay residential care homes
• Carers
• People in close contact with patients with impaired immune systems
• Social care and hospice workers who provide direct patient care
• Health and social care staff, employed by a registered residential care/nursing home or registered home care provider

The free flu vaccine is available to patients who have one of the following conditions:

• heart problem
• chest complaint or breathing difficulties, including bronchitis, emphysema or severe asthma
• kidney disease
• lowered immunity due to disease or treatment (such as steroid medication or cancer treatment)
• liver disease
• stroke or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
• diabetes
• neurological condition e.g. multiple sclerosis
• morbid obesity (BMI over 40)
• cerebral palsy or a learning disability.

For more information on the NHS flu vaccine visit the OCCG website.