Pregnant women and young children at particular risk from flu this year

Health and Social Care

With Christmas unfortunately comes a rise in flu cases as people gather together – and this year cases of swine flu are beginning to emerge.

Swine flu – the H1N1 strain of the virus – can pose a particular risk to pregnant women and young children. On the plus side, this year’s flu vaccine is really well-matched to this strain of flu. So it’s even more important that pregnant women and young children take up their free vaccine, now we are starting to see which type of flu is circulating this year.

All pregnant women and children aged 2-3 plus school children from Reception – Year 5 are eligible for a free vaccine on the NHS.

Flu is a very nasty illness that can impact children badly. Most healthy people will recover at home after a few days but the illness can be a very unpleasant experience while it lasts.

In rare cases it can sadly be more dangerous. Louise and Jamie, the parents of 9 year old Coby Simons, know this only too well as Coby – who was from Devon – sadly lost his life just a few days after getting the flu earlier this year.

While what happened to Coby is rare, Louise and Jamie still want as many children vaccinated as possible this year so no-one else has to go through what they have.

So far this year, fewer young children in Buckinghamshire have been vaccinated compared to other areas so the County Council and the NHS locally are urging parents to act and are supporting the national #ThumbsUpForCoby campaign.

All pre-school children aged 2-3 and all school aged children from Reception to Year 5 at school are eligible for a free flu vaccine on the NHS, which is given as a painless spray up the nose. 2-3 year olds have to go to their GP to get their vaccine, while school age children are being offered the vaccine at school.

Noel Brown is Buckinghamshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Public Health. He said:

“We absolutely don’t want to scare parents and Coby’s tragic story is rare. However, his Mum and Dad, Louise and Jamie, do want other parents to know that having the vaccine could have prevented his illness so we are doing our bit to spread the word.

“Now we are starting to see which type of flu is emerging it’s great news that the vaccine this year is very effective. But swine flu does pose a particular risk to pregnant women and young children so please, if you haven’t already, then arrange your vaccine without delay.

“The same goes for anyone aged over 65 or people with certain long term medical conditions. All these people can be vaccinated free on the NHS at your pharmacy or your doctor’s surgery. Please, please spread the word to make it happen and help keep the more vulnerable amongst us well this winter.”

  • Pregnant women should ask their midwife, GP or pharmacist about the flu vaccine
  • Parents of young children should ask their GP about vaccinating their child
  • For advice on flu and the vaccine go towww.nhs.uk/flu
  • For advice on staying well this winterwww.nhs.uk/staywell