Parents are being urged to vaccinate their children against flu over the half-term break, as NHS England warns of a sharp rise in infections and hospitalizations among children.
Health officials say the flu season has arrived early this year, with data showing a steady increase in cases across the country. NHS England is calling on parents to act swiftly to protect their children, particularly as flu can spread rapidly in schools and communities.
While many school-aged children have already received the flu vaccine through school programs, NHS England stressed that several alternative options remain available. Parents can take their children to GP surgeries, pharmacies or pop-up vaccination clinics across the country. The vaccine is typically given as a quick and painless nasal spray rather than an injection.
Duncan Burton, chief nursing officer for England, said it was concerning that flu was spreading earlier than expected this year and that infections among children were rising quickly. “Flu can spread like wildfire across schools and can make children really unwell,” he said, urging parents to ensure their child is vaccinated either at school or at a nearby clinic.
To make access easier, the NHS has organized pop-up clinics in community settings such as bowling alleys and fire stations. “The vaccine is quick, easy and safe,” Mr Burton told BBC Radio 4’s Today program.
Dr Fari Ahmad told BBC Breakfast that flu cases were rising but had not yet peaked. “With flu, this is a war we have every year. Flu is unpredictable, it still kills people, and every year we try to get enough people vaccinated so that when the big surge comes, we are not decimated,” she said. Vaccinating school-age children, she added, not only protects them but also reduces wider community transmission.
According to NHS England, more than 10 million flu vaccines have already been administered this season, including to nearly 1.5 million school-aged children and over 300,000 two- and three-year-olds.
Free flu vaccines are also available for those aged 65 and over, people with certain long-term health conditions, pregnant women, care home residents, main carers for vulnerable individuals, and those living with someone who has a weakened immune system.
Health officials emphasized that vaccination remains the best defense against serious illness, particularly as flu strains change every year. They urged parents to take advantage of the half-term period to ensure their children are protected before cases climb further.
