The latest data from the UK Health Security Agency has shown that the low uptake of the flu vaccine among 2 and 3-year-olds is putting them at risk.
Parents are being warned about the importance of ensuring young children are vaccinated, following high rates of under 5s being hospitalised with flu.
Between 14th and 20th November, it is estimated that over 200 children under 5 were hospitalised suffering from serious complications caused the virus.
The uptake of the flu vaccine among 2- and 3-year-olds has dropped considerably when compared with the last two years, by around 11%.
In Bath and North East Somerset, the uptake is 28.9% for 2-year-olds and 29.5% for 3-year-olds.
Flu is now circulating at higher levels than recent winter seasons and young children are particularly vulnerable and can become seriously unwell.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions in the past couple of years, most young children will not have ever encountered flu.
This means they will not have built up any natural immunity to the virus, so it is particularly important for them to take up the flu vaccine this year.
GP surgeries are inviting children aged 2 and 3 years old for the nasal spray vaccination at their practices.
If you haven’t heard from your GP surgery, you should contact them directly to make an appointment.
All primary school children and some secondary school children are also eligible for the flu nasal spray this year, which is usually given at school.
Dr Conall Watson, Consultant Epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency, said: “Young children are particularly vulnerable to becoming very poorly from flu.
“For the third week running we have seen hospitalisation rates among children under 5 jump up, with a 70% increase in just the last week. Over 200 children were hospitalised because of flu in one week.
“Flu is now circulating at higher levels than recent years and because of the pandemic restrictions most young children will not have encountered flu before.
“This means they will have no natural immunity and are therefore at even greater risk this year.
“Two and three-year-olds can get protection with a free nasal spray vaccine from the NHS. Nobody wants their child to get sick so I strongly urge parents to book the vaccine at their GP surgery as soon as possible.”
Dr Julie Yates, Lead Consultant for Screening and Immunisation for NHS England South West added: “We are seeing a significant rise in flu cases across the South West, particularly in young children and with some needing hospital admission.
“Flu can be a very serious illness for young children and those who have other conditions that make them vulnerable to the complications of flu.
“We are encouraging parents to be aware of symptoms of flu which can appear very quickly.
“These include a high temperature, often above 38oC, an aching body, feeling exhausted, sore throat and runny nose and loss of appetite. Children may also become less active and get ear pain.
“Even if your child had a flu vaccination last year, the type of flu virus can vary each winter, and this is why it is important that they have the flu vaccine each year to boost their immunity and protect them against this nasty infection.”
Due to the increase in levels of flu circulating in the community, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has recommended that it is now appropriate for antiviral medicines to be prescribed in primary care settings.
Those eligible for antivirals if they have flu include patients in clinical at-risk groups as well as any who are at risk of severe illness and complications from flu if not treated.
This includes people in those groups who present with symptoms of flu and those who have been exposed to flu-like illnesses from someone they live with, including residents of care homes.
Around 33 million people are eligible for the flu this year. All primary school children and some secondary school children are being given the option to have it at school.
