Following a surge of serious flu cases among the under-fives in the North West, the Chief Nurse at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital has urged parents and guardians of young children take up the offer of the flu jab this winter, amid rising flu hospitalisations.

Nathan Askew has urged parents to help “keep us all safe this winter by getting your children vaccinated.”

He said: “We have seen a rising number of young children with flu recently and children under 5 are most likely to be hospitalised with flu.

“They are also ‘super-spreaders’, which means they can pass it on really easily to other members of the family, especially those who are vulnerable.”

Across England, hospitalisations in young children are over 44% higher than the last pre-pandemic year (2019/20), with around 650 children under five in hospital with flu this week compared to around 450 at the same time in 2019/20. This time last year there were less than 20 children in hospital with flu.

In the North West, it is estimated that vaccine uptake in children aged two to three is falling behind last year’s figures. On average 33.2% of 2-3s in the North West have received their vaccine so far this year (31.4% of two year olds, 35% of three year olds), compared to 40% this time last year (38.1% of two year olds, 41.8% of three year olds).

The NHS is continuing to see the impact of viruses circulating again post-pandemic. It comes as the latest winter data shows that nationally every day over the past week over a thousand (1,162) general and acute beds were taken up by patients with flu and 87 patients with flu were in critical care beds. The year before there were an average of just 25 patients a day in hospital with flu.

Across the population, the intensive care admission rate is now higher for flu than for COVID-19 and UKHSA recently recommended that the increasing level of flu circulating meant that it was appropriate for antivirals to be prescribed in primary care settings for flu.

Dr Merav Kliner, Regional Deputy Director for UKHSA North West, said: “Flu is circulating widely this winter and we’re seeing an increase in hospitalisations. Flu can make young children seriously ill and they can also spread it to vulnerable family or friends.

“The flu vaccine is the best way for children to build up immunity but uptake is low this year for children aged two to three. This is concerning given the expected reduced levels of natural immunity across the population following two winters with little flu.

Children are being offered a free nasal spray flu vaccine which is quick and easy and will help to protect them and reduce their risk of becoming seriously unwell.

“I encourage parents to keep children safe from flu this winter and help stop the spread by getting them vaccinated. If your child is aged 2-3 before September, book an appointment now with your GP.

“Everyone should remember that if you’re not feeling well, protect others by staying at home & avoiding close contact with others if you can.”

The flu vaccine can protect young children from getting seriously ill and ending up in hospital. For most children aged 2 to 3, it is a quick and painless spray up the nose which is administered in a GP surgery. If the nasal spray vaccine is not suitable for them, they will be offered a flu vaccine injection instead. More information can be found on the NHS website.

Young children who can get a flu vaccination include:

• children aged 6 months to 17 years with long-term health conditions
• children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2022 (born between 1 September 2018 and 31 August 2020)
• all primary school children (Reception to Year 6)
• some secondary school aged children

It is not too late for children to get the flu vaccine. Parents and guardians of children aged 2 and 3 and children in a high risk group can make an appointment through their GP surgery. Parents and guardians of any reception and primary school aged children who missed their vaccination should contact their local school-aged vaccination service or ask at their school if you are unsure.

This winter the flu vaccine is being offered to secondary school aged children from school years 7,8 and 9 in December and January so parents and guardians should make sure that they send back the consent forms to allow their child to get the vaccine.