Last year we ran a short poll which asked “Are you planning to have a ‘flu jab this winter?”.

The result was overwhelming yes from our readers. The poll is still open so please do tale part by going here.

This year Public Health England are running a campaign which targets people of all ages with a health condition, pregnant women and parents of children aged 2 to 4.

They say “Each winter hundreds of thousands of people see their GP and tens of thousands are hospitalised because of flu. Last winter, PHE received reports of 904 people admitted to intensive care or high dependency units with laboratory confirmed flu and, of them, 11% (98 people) died.” They take the view that flu may well be a contributing factor to many other deaths as well.

For most of us , flu is an unpleasant but usually self-limiting disease with recovery taking up to a week. However, older people, the very young, pregnant women and those with a health condition, particularly chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease, or those with a weakened immune system are at particular risk from the more serious effects of flu.
People with flu are approximately 11 times more likely to die if they have an underlying health condition than if they don’t. Despite this, only 52% of people aged 6 months to 65 years living with an underlying condition putting them at risk of severe infection took up the offer of the free flu vaccine during 2013/14.

According to Professor Dame Sally Davies, “Flu is a really unpleasant illness, particularly for our most vulnerable patients and it is essential that people take steps to protect themselves during the winter months. I would urge those who are offered the free flu vaccination to visit their GP early in the flu season. I also urge all health care workers to make they are vaccinated to protect themselves, their patients and their families”.

Pregnant women are encouraged not to put off the free flu vaccination this winter. Pregnancy naturally weakens the body’s immune system and as a result, increases the risk of a mother and unborn baby becoming seriously ill from flu.

Since 2013, 2 and 3 year olds have been eligible for flu vaccination with a newly available nasal spray, and this year the spray is also being offered to 4 year olds. However, nearly half (48%) of mums are not aware of this quick, effective and painless way to protect children from flu[iv] with uptake only around 40% in 2-3 year olds in 2013/14.

Dr Paul Cosford who is Director for Health Protection and Medical Director at Public Health England told us “The nasal spray is quick, easy and painless way to help prevent pre-school age children catching flu and the vaccine also helps to reduce the spread of flu to those who are more vulnerable.”

Last year’s flu season was less severe than some we have seen but flu is an unpredictable virus and it is impossible to predict the impact of the disease and how many serious cases there might be as new strains might circulate each year with varying intensity. This reinforces the need for annual flu vaccination among these key groups – including those aged 65 and over who have historically good uptake rates at around 75%.

The national campaign is being launched to encourage those eligible for the vaccine free on the NHS to contact their GP or pharmacist.

So what do you think would you consider the nasal spray for your child?

Feel free to comment in the box below.

Thanks in advance.

PS The campaign is being backed by somebody called Peter Andre. Does anyone know who he is?