Flu vaccine

[HamishDent]

Are you arranging for your teenager to have the flu vaccine this year? I’ve just realised that they stop doing the nasal spray vaccine when children leave primary school (Scotland), so was considering getting it done privately for my 12yo son. I’m going to have it this year for the first time (I have just turned 50).

Is it worth doing for secondary age kids? I presume there is a reason they stop giving it after primary age, so perhaps I’m being overly cautious.

Mine get it, injectable on NHS, because I am living with leukaemia so both I and my immediate household qualify.

It can be a bit hard to track down places which will vaccinate DC older than the school programme but under 16/18, as pharmacists need an additional paediatric qualification and not all have it. But it’s getting a bit easier (try the larger branches of Superdrug)

Thanks iVampire. I managed to find a Boots that will give he vaccine to senior school age kids, so he’s booked in. It’s an injection rather than the nasal spray he’s had before, so I’ll have to break the news gently!

As kids are far more likely to be really ill with and even die from flu than they are from Covid, it makes sense to me to get him done.

Flu this year may benefit from the Covid restrictions and there may be fewer cases.

Conversely, the fact we haven't been building up our immune systems by being around others may give flu a free ride leading to many more cases

Thanks Reality, those are interesting points. I’m glad I’ve booked him in to have it, it’s just a shame they don’t do the nasal spray.