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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Parents urged to get children flu vaccine as infections rise | Parents urged to get children flu vaccine as infections rise |
| (4 months later) | |
| All children under five can get vaccinated at their GP surgery | All children under five can get vaccinated at their GP surgery |
| Parents are being urged to get their children a flu vaccine after a 70% jump in hospitalisations of patients under five. | Parents are being urged to get their children a flu vaccine after a 70% jump in hospitalisations of patients under five. |
| The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said an 11% fall in vaccine uptake among two and three-year-olds came as flu circulated at higher levels. | The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said an 11% fall in vaccine uptake among two and three-year-olds came as flu circulated at higher levels. |
| All children in this age group can get vaccinated at their GP surgery. | All children in this age group can get vaccinated at their GP surgery. |
| Two doctors from Bristol said their son getting ill with the flu was "every parent's worst nightmare". | Two doctors from Bristol said their son getting ill with the flu was "every parent's worst nightmare". |
| Covid restrictions have meant most young children have never encountered flu and have no natural immunity to the virus, the UKHSA said. | Covid restrictions have meant most young children have never encountered flu and have no natural immunity to the virus, the UKHSA said. |
| This increased risk has coincided with the uptake of the flu vaccine among two-year-olds standing at 31% and 33% among three-year-olds. | This increased risk has coincided with the uptake of the flu vaccine among two-year-olds standing at 31% and 33% among three-year-olds. |
| These figures are down by around 11% compared to the past two years, the UKHSA said. | These figures are down by around 11% compared to the past two years, the UKHSA said. |
| Rafa spent two days in intensive care after contracting flu | Rafa spent two days in intensive care after contracting flu |
| Anjali and Ben Wildblood from Bristol saw their two-year-old son Rafa become "very sick" with flu just days before he was due to have the vaccine. | Anjali and Ben Wildblood from Bristol saw their two-year-old son Rafa become "very sick" with flu just days before he was due to have the vaccine. |
| The pair, who are both NHS consultants, said their concerns prompted them to take him to A&E where he was treated and sent home. | The pair, who are both NHS consultants, said their concerns prompted them to take him to A&E where he was treated and sent 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," they said. | "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," they said. |
| After returning to hospital, Rafa was admitted to a paediatric intensive care unit where he was put under general anaesthetic and intubated. | After returning to hospital, Rafa was admitted to a paediatric intensive care unit where he was put under general anaesthetic and intubated. |
| 'Terrible experience' | 'Terrible experience' |
| His swab results came back showing he had influenza type A and after two days in the unit he gradually began to improve. | His swab results came back showing he had influenza type A and after two days in the unit he gradually began to improve. |
| He is now home and doing well. | He is now home and doing well. |
| "No parent wants this for their child or to go through a similar terrible experience. | "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," his parents said. | "We urge other parents of two to three-year-olds to ensure your child gets their flu vaccine as soon as possible," his parents said. |
| Dr Conall Watson, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: "Young children are particularly vulnerable to becoming very poorly from flu. | Dr Conall Watson, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: "Young children are particularly vulnerable to becoming very poorly from flu. |
| "For the third week running we have seen hospitalisation rates among children under five jump up, with a 70% increase in just the last week." | "For the third week running we have seen hospitalisation rates among children under five jump up, with a 70% increase in just the last week." |
| Parents are encouraged to contact their GP if they have not received an invite for a nasal spray vaccination for a child aged two or three as of 31 August. | Parents are encouraged to contact their GP if they have not received an invite for a nasal spray vaccination for a child aged two or three as of 31 August. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk | Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Children | Children |
| Health | |
| Bristol | |
| Flu | Flu |