File photo of a patient receiving the seasonal flu vaccine
(Picture: PA Wire)The number of children under the age of five being hospitalised with flu has jumped 70 per cent in a week, data shows, as parents were urged to ensure their children receive a booster vaccine.
Figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show a low uptake of the flu jab among two and three-year-olds as hospital admissions in the age group have risen.
More than 200 children aged under five were admitted to hospital in the week up to November 20 after suffering from serious complications with flu, UKHSA data showed.
Meanwhile, uptake of the flu jab among two-year-olds stands at 31 per cent and 33 per cent among three-year-olds. These are down by about 11 per cent compared to the last two years.
GP surgeries are inviting children aged two and three (as of August 31 2022) for the nasal spray vaccination at their practices and parents are encouraged to contact their surgery if they have not received an invite.
All primary school children and some secondary school children are also eligible for the flu nasal spray this year, which is usually given in school.
Anjali and Ben Wildblood from Bristol, who are both NHS consultants, saw their child Rafa admitted to hospital with flu.
They said: “Before we were able to get our two-year-old son booked in for a flu vaccine, over the course of a weekend he became very sick, with a high temperature and breathing difficulties.
“He had previously suffered with croup and had been treated with steroids, but this was clearly some other very concerning respiratory problem.
“We took him into A&E, where he was treated and we returned home.
“But his condition got worse again, with a soaring temperature and exhaustion – he had no strength whatsoever and what was so extremely worrying was that he barely had the strength to breathe – every parent’s worst nightmare.
“We returned to A&E and he was admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit (ICU). Even as NHS consultants, seeing your child in ICU is a terribly frightening experience.”
Rafa was put under general anaesthetic and intubated, which involved inserting a tube into his throat so he was able to breathe. Test results later showed he had influenza type A.
After two days of intubation in ICU, his condition improved and he began to recover.
“No parent wants this for their child or to go through a similar terrible experience. We urge other parents of two to three-year-olds to ensure your child gets their flu vaccine as soon as possible,” they added.
Separate figures show that the number of hospital beds in London being occupied by flu patients is ten times higher than during the same period last year.
Professor Kevin Fenton, London's Public Health Director, said: "Flu cases are now rising rapidly, especially in young people. Be aware of the signs and symptoms and please get vaccinated, if eligible."
Dr Yvonne Young, deputy director for health protection at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in London, said that flu rates are also high in 5-14 year olds and that this would "be a concern" for many parents.
"We are extremely fortunate to have vaccines, which remain our best protection against severe disease and hospitalisation this winter... If you're eligible, please book your jab without delay. It will help protect yourself, your family and help reduce the burden on our health service."
About 25,000 people die of flu every year in England. Low levels of immunity in the population have sparked fears that the UK could suffer a particularly bad flu season based on the situation in Australia, where it strikes first.
