Should your children be given the vaccination on the NHS?
A survey has revealed that over four in ten parents think all children should be offered a seasonal influenza vaccine.
Unlike health services in the US and other European countries, the NHS currently only offers vaccination to under 18s with underlying health conditions, despite children being the source of infection for many adults.
Results from the survey of 1,020 Mumsnetters, follow a recent warning from leading virology expert Professor John Oxford that, based on trends in the southern hemisphere, Europe could face a rise in seasonal flu cases in the next season.
Professor John Oxford, Professor of Virology, Centre for Infectious Diseases Bart's and the London Queen Mary's, University of London, says:
"Although children without existing health conditions do not often get seriously ill from seasonal influenza themselves, they are carriers and spreaders of infection. Vaccination provides the best protection against flu and prevents infection being passed amongst very young children.
"The UK still lags behind other countries on this issue despite vaccination being shown to not only protect children but also the elderly and other at risks groups by herd immunity."
In the survey, Mumsnetters whose children have had seasonal flu in the last few years reported the every day health and economic realities of the spread of flu. Six out of ten parents said that they, their partner or other children in the household also fell ill and nearly half said that they or their partner had to take time off work to look after their ill child.
Seasonal influenza accounts for 400,000 GP consultations annually in England and Wales and six million working days are lost in the UK due to the condition every year.
Carrie Longton, co-founder of Mumsnet says: “These survey results show the impact that seasonal flu can have on family health and work life. Experts agree children are the biggest spreaders of the virus and a significant number of Mumsnetters surveyed support the idea that children should be offered the seasonal flu vaccination on the NHS.”
Nearly a quarter of those surveyed said they were not aware of any complications if a child has flu. Furthermore, only a fifth noted one of the most common complications – pneumonia. Although rare, only 5 per cent of parents correctly identified that flu can prove fatal in some cases.
Dr George Kassianos, lead on immunisation, Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) who has campaigned on the issue of universal child flu vaccination for over five years comments: “The considerable personal and economic impact of flu in children is often underestimated. Despite being a preventable disease, flu continues to kill every year and places a significant burden on our healthcare systems, general practice and hospitals. Vaccination is without doubt one of the most cost-effective health achievements of modern times and could help save lives each and every year.”