Less than half of Northamptonshire children received a flu vaccination this winter

More than half the young children in Northamptonshire were not vaccinated when flu season hit, according to Public Health England.

The latest figures show that just 47% of four to 10 year olds had received the flu vaccine at the end of November.

That proportion is in line with the average rate for England.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Of 62,748 primary school children in Northamptonshire, 33,452 had not been given the vaccine, which is delivered in school as a nasal spray.

Public Health England advises headteachers to make sure their pupils are protected before the winter months.

The flu vaccine programme runs from the beginning of September to the end of January, with PHE reporting uptake rates throughout the winter.

By the end of the previous winter, 61% of four to 10 year olds in Northamptonshire were covered, suggesting uptake could increase through December and January.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But with flu season starting in December it’s still important to make sure children are vaccinated as early as possible, according to the NHS.

Dr Richard Pebody, head of flu at PHE, said: “Flu can be nasty for little children. Some develop a very high fever or complications of flu, such as bronchitis or pneumonia, and may need hospital treatment.

“Children also tend to be super-spreaders of flu, so if they get it, they are likely to infect more vulnerable older family members.

“The best form of protection against flu is to get the vaccine if you are eligible, and to practise good respiratory and hand hygiene.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Dr David Elliman, immunisation expert at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said that uptake of the flu vaccine is always lower than other routine jabs.

He added: “But even with a modest uptake you see a reduction of flu in the general community. Any uptake is better than nothing.”

Last winter was the worst flu season in a decade in England, causing 3,175 hospital admissions and 320 deaths.