NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde paediatricians are urging parents to make sure their child is protected against flu – with a wee scoosh up the nose – to avoid hospitalisation this winter.
The call follows 1,874 children spending time in Scottish hospitals between the 1st of October 2024 and the 31st of March 2025 because of the virus. That’s roughly the same as 75 classes of primary school children.
Dr Louisa Pollock NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Consultant in Paediatric Infectious Diseases at the Royal Hospital for Children explained:
“Flu is more than just a cold. Children with flu are really hot, sore and miserable. They often struggle to eat or sleep with a bad cough and vomiting. Younger children and those with asthma are more at risk of severe flu with breathing difficulties leading to hospital admission. Flu can also cause rare life-threatening complications like brain infections or severe pneumonia.
“The vaccination provides the best protection for children and helps to keep others around them protected. I make sure my wee boy gets his every year. We urge all parents to ensure they attend the appointment with their child or, for children of school-age, complete the permission slips for this to take place at school.”
The child flu vaccination roll out is now underway across clinics and schools and is offered as a painless nasal spray to almost all children. It does not give the child flu, but it starts to provide protection against it within 10-14 days.
The vaccine will be offered to all school-aged pupils, all children aged 2-5 not yet in school and children aged 6 months to 2 years old with a condition that puts them at increased risk of flu. Home-educated young people and young people not attending mainstream education are also eligible.
The nasal spray offers the best possible protection for children and young people and can also stop flu spreading to family, friends and others, especially those most at risk of becoming seriously ill with flu.
Katerina Finnie, mum of four-year-old, Heidi Finnie, attended the Under 5’s Flu Vaccination Clinic in Partick. She explained why she made the choice for Heidi to be vaccinated:
“My husband works in healthcare so we’re aware of the risks when children get ill, particularly from flu. Why chance seeing them really poorly or having to take them to hospital?
“I also think that it is a privilege to be able to protect your child against a virus like the flu and I am grateful that I have the option to bring Heidi along to get the vaccine,” she said.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Pre 5 Flu Team Lead, Carol Steele said:
“Our local programme has now commenced and letters inviting parents and carers to bring their child to our vaccination clinic have now been sent. If you have children aged between two and five who aren’t yet at school or between 6 months to 2 years at risk, please look out for this appointment time.
“Children of this age pick up viruses so easily, so, while it may feel early with the milder weather still being here, it is actually the best time to get the protection in place. Children are being offered the vaccination at the start of the program to ensure they receive the earliest protection and prevent the virus spreading.
“Another point to remember is that the virus changes every year so if your child has this vaccination in the past, they’ll still need it again to ensure they are covered these winter months.
“The great thing about it being a ‘wee scoosh’ up the nose is that children are relatively relaxed getting this. There is a wee tickle and then it is all over.”
NHSGGC also asks that parents and carers call the number on their child’s letter if their child has missed their appointment or needs to reschedule.
Consent forms and further information will be sent home to parents and carers of school children on return to school. Secondary pupils can self-consent but are encouraged to speak to a parent or carer first. All primary and secondary school pupils with consent to be given the flu vaccine nasal spray will receive this at school starting in early September through to December 2025.
The annual vaccine offers protection against the most common types of flu virus that are around each winter.
Those eligible for the childhood and school flu vaccination programme include:
- children aged 6 months to 2 years at higher risk of flu
- children aged 2 to 5 years (on 1 September 2025 and not yet at school)
- all primary school children in Scotland (primary 1 to primary 7)
- all secondary school pupils (S1 to S6)
If a young person has left secondary school, they are not eligible to get a flu vaccine at school. 16- and 17-year-olds with an eligible health condition who have left school can phone 0800 030 8013 to book an appointment for the flu vaccine or by visiting the online booking portal
In a small number of cases, the nasal spray may not be suitable. Children aged 2 to 17 years who cannot receive the nasal spray will receive the vaccine as an injection in the arm.
For more information about the child flu vaccine, visit NHS Inform: nhsinform.scot/childflu
