Nasal Flu Vaccination for Children Aged 2-3yrs

Should my child get the flu nasal spray? Dr Tania is a local GP and primary care lead for children – she tells us why…

Posted by NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board on Monday, 26 September 2022

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Five reasons to have the flu vaccine

  • Protect your child

    The vaccine will help protect your child against flu and serious complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia.

  • Protect you, your family and friends

    Vaccinating your child will help protect more vulnerable friends and family.

  • No injection needed

    The nasal spray is painless and easy to have.

  • It’s better than having flu

    The nasal spray helps protect against flu, has been given to millions of children worldwide and has an excellent safety record.

  • Avoid costs

    If your child gets flu, you may have to take time off work or arrange alternative childcare.

Eligible children

The flu vaccine is offered free to:

  • children aged 2 or 3 years old (on 31 August before flu vaccinations start in the autumn)
  • some school-aged children
  • children with a health condition that puts them at greater risk from flu

How the nasal spray works

The nasal spray contains viruses that have been weakened to prevent them from causing flu but will help your child to build up immunity. This means your child will be better able to fight off flu. The vaccine is absorbed really quickly in the nose so, even if your child sneezes immediately after having had the spray, there’s no need to worry that it hasn’t worked.

Why the vaccine cannot cause flu

The vaccine cannot cause flu because the viruses in it have been weakened to prevent this from happening.

Further information is available on NHS.UK.