Following a surge in serious cases of flu among under-fives across the South East, parents are being urged to make sure that their children are vaccinated if they are eligible for the flu vaccine.

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.

Nationally, vaccine uptake in children aged two to three is behind last year’s figures. Less than 40% of children aged two to three years old¹ have received their flu jab so far this year – down 7% points on last year.

In the South East, it is estimated that vaccine uptake in children aged two to three is also behind last year’s figures. On average 45% of two to three year olds in the South East have received their vaccine so far this year², compared to 52.5% this time last year³.

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.

It is not too late for children to get the flu vaccine and it can protect young children from getting seriously ill and ending up in hospital. For most children aged two to three, 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.

Approximately 74,000 children aged two and three have already come forward for their flu nasal spray in the South East, including three-year-old Dylan from Hampshire. 

Mum Emma said: “I got a text message reminder to book Dylan in for his flu nasal spray with a link to book the appointment after work. Dylan had the nasal spray and it was so quick and easy.” 

Parents and guardians of children aged two and three 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.

Flu is now circulating at higher levels than recent winter seasons and young children are particularly vulnerable and can become seriously unwell.

Due to coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions in the past couple of years, most young children will not have ever encountered flu. This means they will not have built up any natural immunity to this virus, so it is particularly important for them to take up the flu vaccine this year.

Dr Nina Silson, GP from the south coast of the region, said: “I would like to encourage anybody who has two to three-year-old children to contact their GP to get them booked in for their flu nasal vaccination.

“It’s really important not only to protect your little ones from catching the flu but also to stop them passing it to other members of your family, as we head towards the winter period particularly over Christmas.

“It’s a painless vaccine.”