Free Nasal Flu Vaccine for Children
Did you know that children aged 2 to 17 are in the HSE ‘at risk’ group and can now get the nasal flu vaccination for free. We provide this service here at McFadden’s Pharmacy.
Influenza is a very infectious illness caused by the flu virus. Flu spreads easily & infects both children and adults.Children are twice as likely to get the flu than adults and are more likely than adults to get severe complications of flu.
The flu vaccination will help protect your child against flu and reduce the spread to others. e.g. siblings, parents, grandparents, friends. It will also prevent them missing days in school and crèche.
The flu vaccination for children has been around for quite some time and has been given safely to children in the US since 2003 and in the UK since 2013.
The vaccine itself is very easy procedure, no needles involved! It is given as a single spray in each nostril of your child’s nose.Your child can breathe normally during the vaccination.
The vaccine is not painful at all; it is absorbed quickly and you child can breathe normally while receiving the vaccination. It will still work even if your child has a runny nose, sneezes or blows their nose after the vaccination.
Most children need only 1 dose each year. Some children with chronic health conditions like chronic heart or lung conditions may need 2 doses.
The most common side effects are mild & include:
* a runny or blocked nose
* headache
* muscle aches
A few children may get a fever (temperature) after the vaccination,it is usually mild. Serious side effects such as a severe allergic reaction are rare.
If your child has a fever or a headache, you can give them paracetamol or ibuprofen. DO NOT give children Aspirin or any medication containing aspirin unless prescribed by a doctor.
You should delay your child’s vaccination if they are not well, have a high temperature or a very blocked/ runny nose.
There is no evidence that you can catch flu from the nasal flu spray.
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