COMMUNITY nurses from Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust are encouraging families with young children to make sure their little ones get the flu vaccination, to help them stay well this winter.

The Care Trust’s immunisation team will be visiting primary schools across Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale, Craven and Wakefield, and are running community-based clinics, to offer the nasal flu vaccine which is a simple spray for children aged four to eleven years, to protect them against flu.

Kathy O’Connell who heads up the immunisation team across Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven at the Care Trust said: “Every winter there is always the threat of a bad flu season. Flu is a serious illness and can be horrible for little children and if they get it, it can spread around the whole family. Children can have the same symptoms as adults such as fever, headaches and aching muscles. For children with long term conditions like diabetes or asthma, flu can potentially cause serious complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia, so it’s really important that they look after themselves.”

For young children, the flu vaccine is just a quick nasal spray, which they can get at their GP practice if they are aged two and three, or in school from reception class to year six.

The vaccine helps prevent children from getting flu and whilst it can’t stop all flu viruses, if they get flu after the vaccination, it’s likely to be milder and they will recover more quickly.

The flu jab is also available for children with a long-term health conditions aged two to 18 years, pregnant women, people aged over 65 and people who are the main carer for an older or disabled person.

The flu vaccination is part of the national ‘we’re here to help you stay well this winter’ campaign which is a joint initiative from the NHS and Public Health England, to help everyone ward off common winter illnesses.

The Care Trust’s community healthcare teams are backing this important healthcare campaign by supporting people across the local communities to take steps to look after themselves this winter, and get support early if they are unwell.

For further information on protecting you and your child against flu, see the short film from the Care Trust on Bradford District Care Trust’s website at www.bdct.nhs.uk – search ‘stay well this winter’.