This flu season, all children age 2 to 17 will be offered the nasal flu vaccine for free.
If the nasal flu vaccine is not available they can get the flu vaccine as an injection.
Why children should get the flu vaccine
The flu vaccine helps to protect children against flu.
Most children who get the flu have mild symptoms. But children and young people with long-term health conditions are at risk of serious complications from flu.
In some children, flu can lead to problems such as:
- pneumonia
- bronchitis
- inflammation of the brain (encephalitis)
Children with these complications may need hospital treatment. Some may need intensive care.
In the past 10 years in Ireland, almost 5,000 children were admitted to hospital with complications of flu. Almost 200 children had treatment in intensive care and 40 children died.
Who should not get the nasal flu vaccine
A very small number of children will not be able to get the nasal flu vaccine because of medical reasons.
If your child cannot get the nasal vaccine, your GP or pharmacist will talk to you about giving your child a vaccine by injection.
Where children can get the flu vaccine
Your child can get the flu vaccine at your GP surgery or pharmacist.
If your child is aged 2 to 17, the vaccine and the consultation with your GP or pharmacist is free.
Some primary school children will be offered the free nasal flu vaccine in school by HSE vaccination teams. You will be contacted about this by your local team.
Find your local vaccination team
How the nasal flu vaccine is given
Your child will get the vaccine as a spray up their nose.
The vaccinator will spray once into each nostril. It does not hurt.
Your child can breathe normally while getting the vaccine. There is no need to take a deep breath or sniff.
Some children who have chronic health conditions (such as chronic heart or lung conditions) may need 2 doses, given 4 weeks apart.
Safety
All vaccines are tested to make sure they will not harm your child.
The nasal flu vaccine for children has been given to children in the US since 2003 and in the UK and Ireland since 2013.
Side effects
Your child might have some mild side effects after their vaccine. Some of the side effects can be similar to flu. But they will not get the flu from the flu vaccine.
The most common side effects are mild and include:
- muscle aches
- tiredness
- irritability
- pain and swelling where the injection was given
Some children get a fever (high temperature) after the vaccine. It is usually mild and goes away on its own.
These side effects should go away in 1 to 2 days.
Serious side effects such as a severe allergic reaction are rare.
In very rare cases, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) has been reported. GBS is a condition that affects the nerves in the body. It causes nerve inflammation and can cause pain, numbness, muscle weakness and difficulty walking. You are far more likely to get GBS from having the flu, than from the flu vaccine.
Immunity
Generally, flu vaccines reduce the risk of infection by 40% to 60%.
But even if your child gets the vaccine, they could still get the flu. This is because the vaccine does not protect against all infections.
If your child does not get the flu vaccine, they should take extra care to protect themselves from flu.
Protect your child from flu
As well as getting the vaccine, protect your child from flu by making sure they:
- wash their hands properly and often with soap and water or alcohol hand sanitiser
- cough or sneeze into a tissue or their sleeve
- put used tissues into a bin