Flu vaccine for children under 2

[lasangoles]

AIBU to try and book a private flu vaccination for my 23 month old? Or is it unnecessary? I had flu pretty badly a while back and am having my jab tomorrow. Anyone else getting one for their toddler?

I think they give the flu nasal spray to 2 year olds (or is it 3?) So you are not being unreasonable.

I can't answer whether it is unnecessary for your child.

However, you will struggle to book a vaccine I imagine. Most places doing private are now only doing over 65 (I managed to just get in for an flu jab at a chemist and I get the free flu jab, my Mum who also gets a flu jab free hasn't been able to book one - she is 64 🙄, our surgery only ran one clinic and if you couldn't get there it was tough! Last year (so pre-covid)I couldn't get my 16 yr old booked anywhere as lots of places will only do 18+ if private.

They're giving the spray to those aged 2/3 at the end of August. Under that age, it's only if they're in a high-risk group for flu, and they get a vaccine rather than the spray. The spray is not licensed for under-twos.

I also can’t get one for 2 year old because he turned 2 shortly after the cut off which is in august. Even though they’re not doing them till the end of october. He ended up on oxygen in hospital last year when he got flu and pneumonia and they still won’t. I’m worried about that happening again at a time when cases are high.

My toddler is 3 so is automatically entitled to one. However my GP surgery has text to say most toddler's won't be getting it until later on in the season as they're prioritising any vulnerable children first

I booked a private flu vaccine at a local chemist for my children. It is the injection and my 20 month old will need a second one 4 weeks later as she has not had a vaccine before. Her 3 year old brother will only need one vaccine as he had the nasal vaccine last year. My mum is living with incurable cancer and has chemo every 3 weeks so I try to vaccinate for my children for everything I can.

@twigletfairy i'm so pleased to hear that! so they should.
my GP surgery won't vaccinate my vulnerable child until they have finished injecting all the overs 65....whether vulnerable or not.
then they will start on the vulnerable children - who are currently in school!
so my 4 year old child will be called end of October :(
what a stupid system!!!!

sonypony, it might be worth contacting your GP and asking whether your son might qualify to be added to the vulnerable children list.

sadwithkiddies, round here primary-school-aged children are being done in school mid-October, rather than through GP surgeries.

My toddler is 2 and has their vaccine next week. I guess different areas are doing it differently as she isn't classed as at risk.

@Ianthanum
School is fine if your child can have the flu sniff up the nose vaccine
If you have a vulnerable child who has to injected instead (the sniff is a live vaccine which most vulnerable children cannot have) then a GP must do it 🙄

Ironically after all the over 65s have been done....

The vaccine for over 65's is different than those used for younger people so it does make sense for the gp to do this group together. A high number of this group of people will also be vulnerable with other conditions (diabetes, heart disease, cancer etc).
Unfortunately cannot do the whole population in a single day.

I understand that.....
but the kids who are not vulnerable are already having their flu sniffers in school while the more vulnerable kids are waiting....
and
our vulnerable children are no longer allowed to shield at home - they must now must wait for their flu injections while the over 65s who are mostly retired and can therefore stay at home are put in front....

just seems backwards to me!

I’m having similar issue. DD turned 2 a couple of days after the cut off so just missed being eligible.

Am more than happy to pay privately but most pharmacies won’t do young kids. I’ve found one that will but now wondering whether or not it’s necessary. DS has had it and we’re getting ours in October, so might be overkill - but with the whole covid thing, and having bad experience of DS being rushed to hospital after a respiratory infection, i’m a little paranoid!

I have a 22 month old and did the jab privately last year and again this year. Course of 2 last year, one this year. I struggled to find somewhere but managed to find a private GP/travel clinic who does it.

Neither me or my partner can work from home and missing work time with a sick child is hugely difficult. Plus the thought of him catching flu when I could have spent £30 to prevent it breaks my heart.

@sadwithkiddies

I understand that..... but the kids who are not vulnerable are already having their flu sniffers in school while the more vulnerable kids are waiting.... and our vulnerable children are no longer allowed to shield at home - they must now must wait for their flu injections while the over 65s who are mostly retired and can therefore stay at home are put in front....

just seems backwards to me!

How many of those over 65 provide childcare or pick up drop off? Seniors deserve to have lives too. Not to mention the fact that while flu can be serious for anyone but especially for the elderly it can be fatal. Are they just suppose to stay locked in their houses for the rest of their lives?