Letters, text messages and emails are being sent to parents and guardians of 2 and 3 year olds across Wolverhampton, inviting them to book their child’s vaccination at their registered GP practice.
The vaccination is given via a nasal spray into each nostril, rather than a needle. It is quick and painless, and the best available protection against flu.
Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "If your child is aged 2 or 3, please book their flu vaccination as soon as you are invited to do so.
"Flu is not only highly infectious but the virus can cause serious illnesses in children, such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia, so it's better to be safe than sorry."
Sally Roberts, Chief Nursing Officer for Black Country and West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Group, added: “The flu virus is a highly infectious respiratory virus that can spread very quickly among children.
“Vaccinating your child will not only help protect them from getting flu but also prevent it from spreading to other children, as well as vulnerable family members and friends.
“The vaccine is quick and painless, and is proven to be extremely effective against flu. I would encourage anyone who has received their invite to make an appointment with their GP practice to get their child vaccinated as soon as possible.”
Flu vaccinations via a nasal spray are also being offered to all school children this year. These will be given in school, and pupils will receive parental consent forms a few weeks before vaccinations are scheduled to take place in their school.
Primary aged pupils in Wolverhampton will also receive a free copy of this year's exciting Flu Fighters storybook, Flu Fighters On a Vacc-tastic Voyage, which sees our heroes come face to face with their old foes, Chilly, Achy and Snotty, as they take an incredible journey through the human body.
To find out more about the flu vaccination, and to read all 4 Flu Fighter books, please visit Flu Vaccines.
