Only a third of toddlers vaccinated as NHS issues flu jab warning
According to NHS England (NHSE), just over a third of eligible two- and three-year-olds in England have received a flu vaccination this season. The data indicates that 2.3 million vaccines have been administered to eligible children, including about 400,000 doses for this age group, which represents only 33.4% of the total.
NHSE has taken steps to simplify access for parents by providing flu vaccines through nearly 4,000 local pharmacies as part of a one-season pilot, in addition to offering them in supermarkets and on high streets.
“Parents are being urged to complete vaccination consent forms for school-aged children or to book appointments for two- and three-year-olds to ensure protection before the Christmas holidays,” the NHS stated.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) noted that this year’s flu season has begun earlier than usual, sparking concern about increasing infection levels.
“This early onset could result in a long and challenging winter for the healthcare system, with current flu cases already triple compared to the same period last year,” warned NHSE.
Author’s Summary
This season, fewer than half of England’s youngest children are vaccinated against flu, prompting NHS appeals to parents as flu cases rise earlier and faster than expected.