Winter is coming and to protect children the Western Trust are informing parents of the childhood flu vaccination programme.
Each year the vaccine changes to cover the strains which are likely to be prevalent over the course of the flu season.
The flu vaccination is offered to all pre-school children aged two years and over and those in primaries one to seven, however younger pre-school children can receive the vaccine from their GP surgeries.
The school nursing team will start visiting 178 primary schools across the Trust commencing from October and ending in December, offering the Fluenz Tetra vaccine in a nasal spray form.
The flu virus spreads through the air when people cough and sneeze without covering their nose and mouth and can spread very quickly.
Urging the public to get vaccinated as early as possible, practice manager of Maple Group Practice, Maria Nugent-Murphy said, “Levels of flu vary from year to year, we just can’t predict how prevalent it will be. There is also a widely held view that the flu vaccination can cause flu this is not the cause. A patient may pick up a bug, there are lots around this time of year, by coincidence around the same time of vaccination.
“Vaccinating your child will help protect them against infection with the flu virus and reduce further spread to other children and adults.”
Ann McDuff, Assistant Director, Community and Public Health for the Western Trust explained, “Since implementation in 2013 the Childhood Flu Vaccination Programme has been an excellent achievement, demonstrating the skill and commitment of School Nursing Teams and the commitment of parents to ensuring their children are better protected against this unpleasant and potentially serious infection. The uptake across the Western Trust area last year was 76.2% and we would aim to increase the uptake this year.”
Children can have the same symptoms as adults which can last 2 to 7 days. Complications of flu can include bronchitis, pneumonia and a painful middle ear infection.
The Lisnaskea Maple Group Practice will be offering the flu vaccination to all eligible groups of patients during their first clinic on Saturday October 3rd from 9.30am-2pm.
For more information about the flu vaccine for 2015/16, visit www.fluawareni.info
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Posted: 9:40 am September 30, 2015