Is the NHS still offering swine flu vaccine for under 5's?

[jinglebelly]

if not, where can I get it?

I asked at my Dr's and they are not doing it for under 5's - just vulnerable groups which apparently they are not.

They said you can get it is Tesco for £10.

bump

i don't think tesco's will do it for under 18's

Not at the moment via NHS - they were during the last flu season. Mine were all vaccinated in March under the previous protocols.

I wish I'd had mine done then

Seemed a bit counter intuitive since the brouhaha had completely died down. They had loads of vaccines left over and so had ds2 (6 months) and ds1 (4) done as were under 5 and dd who was 6 had it too.

Saying that, I'm not sure how effective it would be as a protective measure - how long the protection lasts for example. My GP said they might not still have immunity the other day. So who knows whether was worth it or not?

I think it needs to be re-done every year, they say it lasts at least 6 months

Well fingers crossed we don't come into contact with it - 6 months are well and truly up!

Tesco/Boots won't do under 18's, I was told to ask my HV which I am going to do today. You could go to a private GP but I think the consult would be about £100 then you would have to pay for the vaccine ontop.

I'm really confused about this. My DD had it Earlier this year, I think t was Towards the end of the high flu season but we figured 'may as well have it' - the GP surgery offered it to all DCs from 6m to 5y.

She was 2 then, and is now 3.6 - does she have to have the vaccine again?

And DS is now 16m so didn't have it last year - should he have it? He's still BFing so maybe it's not so bad

Frosty, they aren't offering it to children under 5 for this flu season because they don't think they fall into the 'at risk' category based on the figures from last year. Your DD got it at the end of last flu season when they were recommending it for children under 5. I'm not sure how long the swine flu vaccine from last year would last. The strain is the same so theoretically it would still offer protection (if it worked) but obviously there are no long term studies on it so it's anyone's guess really Personally, I'm not worried about it. Once again, the media are running with the story and creating a lot of anxiety by reporting every hospital admission and fatality but if they did this for seasonal flu every year it would be the same and we don't all rush out to get the flu vaccine every year!

After some probing, my GP gave me the option of paying £15 for the nurse to give it to DD (2.4 yo). Have you asked your GP?

Every surgery seems to be interpreting the guidelines differently. My sister had much more trouble getting my nephew vaccinated and he has asthma

If you are in London you can get your child vaccinated at the medi centre at victoria station. I have just booked an appointment for my 4 year old. She was very ill last year with what was presumed (although not confimed) to be swine flu and I don't want to risk her being ill again this year. I am really cross that I have to go to a private clinic to get this done (although the cost of £20 is not too bad) By choosing not to prioritise under 5's and then not allowing pharmacies to give it to under 16's the government has left many parents in an impossible situation. For many the cost of a private vaccination is something they could not afford ven if they lived in an area where it was accessible to them. If as a parent I have the right to decline a vaacine it should surely not be so hard for me to accept one!

I agree it seems ridiculus that the government has stopped the NHS giving jabs for ('low risk') under 5s, but also stopped the pharmacists from allowing them to do this privately....