2 YEAR FLU FAB-Injection or flu vaccine?

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Hi everyone.
Ds has just turned 2. Gp surgery just rang saying Ds was eligible for flu vaccine. I asked if it was nasal or injection and the receptionist said injection. Everywhere I read it says over 2 have nasal spray and only offered injection if they have certain medical conditions (Ds doesn’t have any).
Has anyone else’s 2 year old been offered an injection instead of the nasal spray or can I request the nasal spray instead? DS absolutely hates injections (know all toddlers do!) so would prefer the nasal spray if possible.

Any input appreciated 😊

Yes, the PGD clearly states 2 yr olds can have nasal

To be honest I'd expect that the receptionist made a mistake. I don't think they give 2 year old flu jabs as standard. Are you being booked into a generic flu vaccination clinic. My old GP surgery used to book kids into time slots when they were running a child vaccination clinic on set days.

It’s nasal. It’s only injection if severe egg allergy or they can’t have products containing porcine gelatine for religious reasons.

You can choose to have the IM injection, you don’t need a reason, but the nasal spray is a better product than IM.

Nhs says:

The nasal spray vaccine offers the best protection for children aged 2 to 17 years. They'll be offered a flu vaccine injection if the nasal spray vaccine is not suitable for them. Injected flu vaccines are also safe and effective.

(Nasal spray isn't licensed for under 2s. Maybe they were confused about whether your ds was under or over 2 as his birthday was so recent)

Thank you all! That’s what I was thinking. Will ring them again on Monday and reconfirm.

@TomatoSoupIsLikeVampiresBlood That’s interesting! DS’s dad is an Arab so DS has a Muslim Arabic name. I also live in a very dense Jewish neighbourhood and whenever I have been to the surgery, it’s mostly Jewish patients in the waiting room. Wonder if they’ve offered the injection for religious reasons (I’m Christian and have a common English name). I will just ask for the nasal spray xx

With the injection and if they haven’t had it before then they have to have it twice that season. So for that reason alone I’d avoid it in favour of the nasal spray.

@TropicalTrama ill definitely try and avoid it! DS has only just got over his fear of going to the surgery after his last immunisations. 😫

Nasal for all DC, unless medically contraindicated, or if they have an immediate household member who is severely immune suppressed

The sniff version is a live vaccine which sheds, but does not pose a risk to anyone unless they have a weakened immune system (where the risk is still remote, but that bit more likely to come about)

Either the admin person misunderstood, or they have not got any sniff version in stock and can't yet offer anything other than jab. In which case, I'd find out how long before sniff version is available and wait for that

That’s only if they have certain medical problems, not everyone.

I don’t think it has anything to do with health issues actually but maybe it’s just for kids?

I had my 1YO vaccinated last year privately, no health issues but he was in childcare and I didn’t like the idea of leaving him vulnerable because he didn’t turn 2 until towards the end of flu season. He had to have 2 vaccines with a few weeks between them, can’t remember exactly how long, because he hadn’t had it before. Used to live in the US with my eldest- vaccine is given from
age 1 and they don’t use the spray at all. No health issues and again 2 shots the first year, 1 every year after. It’s standard AFAIK but maybe just a paediatric thing since no one goes twice for their flu jab at work if it’s their first year.

It’s only in certain clinical risk groups, it is not everyone.
Yours was because the child is under 2.

Only if in a clinical risk group.

Thanks @DustyLee123 that makes sense!