Flu vaccinations are now available for pregnant women and children as the NHS in the South West rolls out the first phase of its flu programme to protect families ahead of winter.

Flu can be much more than a bad cold. Every winter thousands of children need hospital care because of the virus, while pregnant women are also at greater risk of becoming seriously ill.

Children are offered the flu vaccine from September because the virus often spreads quickly among younger age groups.

Most school-aged children will be offered their flu vaccination at school, while parents of 2- to 3-year-olds, and of children in a clinical risk group, will be invited to arrange an appointment through their GP practice.

The child flu vaccine is usually given as a spray in each nostril and is a very quick and painless procedure. The vaccine will help protect children from flu and help to reduce the spread of flu to other children and family members such as parents and grandparents.

Pregnant women should get their flu vaccine to protect themselves and their baby. The flu vaccine provides protection for pregnant women and their babies, reducing the risk of severe complications and providing additional protection for newborn babies.

Pregnant women can get their flu jab at any stage of pregnancy and should speak to their maternity team, GP practice or participating pharmacy about getting protected. Eligible people aged 18 or over can book a flu vaccination appointment using the National Booking Service online or in the NHS App.

Around 104,000 hospitalisations are estimated to have been avoided across England last year and over 2.2 million people received their flu jab in South West throughout winter.

Dr Julie Frier, Consultant in Public Health and Screening and Immunisation Lead for NHS England South West, said: “Flu can be a serious illness, so it is important you protect yourself and those around you by getting your jab done.

“If you’re pregnant, getting your flu vaccine provides vital protection for you and your baby and only takes a couple of minutes. Speak with your maternity team, GP surgery or community pharmacy about getting your vaccine.

“For school-aged children the flu vaccine is usually given at school so it is important that parents return their consent forms promptly to ensure their child can get protected. For children aged 2 to 3 years old, speak with your GP surgery to book an appointment.”

Fiona Neely, Consultant in Health Protection at UKHSA, said: “Every year, children in the South West are hospitalised from developing serious flu-related complications.

“When children take up the vaccine, it not only helps protect them. It also, importantly, helps to stop them from spreading flu to others at greater risk, such as their grandparents or younger siblings. The vaccine is usually given as a quick and painless nasal spray.

“If you are pregnant, you are at greater risk of serious flu complications, and vaccination protects you too. Getting vaccinated is especially important because it protects your baby in the womb and in the first few months of life, when they are too young to be vaccinated themselves.

“It takes around two weeks to get optimum protection once vaccinated, so don’t wait. If you’re eligible, please come forward.”

Getting vaccinated when invited helps ensure protection is in place before flu begins circulating more widely through the winter.

The flu vaccine will be available from 1 October for all other eligible cohorts, including people aged 65 and over, adults with some long-term conditions, care home residents, carers, close contacts of people who are immunocompromised, people experiencing homelessness and frontline health and social care workers.

From October, 2- to 3-year-olds will also be able to receive their flu vaccine at participating community pharmacies and COVID-19 vaccinations will be available to people aged 75 years and over, residents in care homes for older adults and individuals aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed. The National Booking Service is already open to book appointments from 1 October.

More information about flu vaccination eligibility and how to get protected is available on the NHS website.

In addition, from today the NHS’s year-round RSV vaccination programme is expanding to include people aged 65 to 74 with a weakened immune system, or certain long-term lung conditions.

RSV is a viral infection which can make babies and adults with long term lung conditions very unwell and at risk of hospitalisation.

Eligible people can receive their vaccination through their GP practice. Those eligible should expect an invite from their GP practice.

Pregnant women can also get the RSV vaccine, as well as the whooping cough and flu vaccines, to help protect their newborn babies in their first weeks.