Flu vaccination for children

Why should children get the flu vaccination?

The flu vaccination helps to prevent and protect children against the flu. The majority of children with the flu only experience minor symptoms. However, those with long-term health conditions are at risk of serious complications from flu.

The flu can cause major issues in some children, including:

• Pneumonia
• Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis)
• Bronchitis

Is the flu vaccination safe for children?

The children’s flu vaccination is both safe and effective, and it is available as a nasal spray. Children receive it every year to aid with their flu defence. Flu can easily infect and spread among children. By immunising them, you can defend those who are susceptible to the flu, like young children and the elderly people.

Who needs the nasal flu vaccine?

All children between the ages of 2 and 17 are now eligible for the free nasal flu vaccination. If your child is between the ages of 6 months and 2 years and has a chronic medical condition that puts them at higher risk for getting the flu, an injection of the flu vaccine will be administered.

How is the nasal flu vaccination administered?

Each nostril receives one spray of the vaccine. This method is fast and painless. Even if your child sneezes, blows their nose, or gets a runny nose, the vaccine will still be effective.

What are the side effects?

Following their vaccination, your child may have a few minor side effects. Some of these side effects resemble the flu. However, they won't contract the virus via the flu vaccine. Serious adverse effects, such as a severe allergic reaction, are very rare.

The most typical mild side effects include:

• Muscle pains
• Tiredness
• Irritability
• Where the injection form of the vaccine is given, there may be some pain and swelling at the injection site
• After receiving the vaccine, whether by injection or nasal spray, some children may develop a fever. It normally subsides on its own and is minor
• These adverse effects should go away after a day or two

Your child should not get the intranasal vaccine if they:

• have had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of the flu vaccine or any of its ingredients
• have severe asthma or if they have been wheezy or needed their inhaler more than usual in the three days before the vaccination
• are taking medicines called salicylates, which include Aspirin
• have a severely weakened immune system because of certain medical conditions or treatments
• are living with someone who has a severely weakened immune system (for example, a person who recently had a bone marrow transplant)
• If your child cannot get the flu vaccine using a nasal spray (nose spray), your pharmacist will talk to you about giving your child a different flu vaccine, which is given by injection. 

How effective is the flu vaccination in children?

Generally, flu vaccination reduces the risk of infection by 40% to 60%, which means that even if your child receives the flu vaccination, they could still contract the flu. This is due to the fact that the vaccination does not protect against 100% of infections.

How can you keep your child safe from the flu?

In addition to receiving the vaccination, safeguard your child against the flu by making sure they:

• Properly and frequently wash their hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Use tissues or the crook of their elbow to conceal coughs and sneezes
• Dispose of old tissues in a bin

How do I obtain the flu vaccine for my child?

You and your child can have your flu vaccine administered in your local LloydsPharmacy. You can book an appointment through our online booking tool.