Parents of young children are being urged to get them the flu vaccine after a 70% jump in hospital admissions for under-fives with the virus. Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows a low uptake of the flu vaccine among two and three-year-olds at the same time as more youngsters are requiring hospital treatment.
The UKHSA said flu is circulating at higher levels than in the past few years. It said young children are particularly vulnerable and can become seriously ill. Covid restrictions mean most young children have never encountered flu and have no natural immunity to the virus, it said.
Data based on confirmed flu cases in major hospitals shows that, between November 14 and 20, more than 200 children under five are estimated to have been admitted to hospital in England suffering from serious complications caused by flu. Uptake of the flu vaccine among two-year-olds stands at 31% and 33% among three-year-olds.
