4,000 pharmacies sign up to deliver toddler flu vaccinations
Around 4,000 pharmacies across England have signed up to administer flu vaccinations to toddlers this autumn, NHS England has announced.
This is the first time pharmacies have been allowed to offer the service to children aged 2-3, who can still also be vaccinated at their GP practice.
Parents will be able to access the nasal spray vaccinations for their toddlers via walk-in and booked services starting 1 October, NHS England said.
GPs have been able to offer vaccination for pregnant women and two-to-three-year-olds from this month, while over-65s and clinical risk groups can be vaccinated from October.
The expansion to the toddle flu vaccination service forms part of a bid to boost uptake by making it more convenient to access vaccination, NHS England said.
Last winter, uptake for two-to-three-year-olds was 42.6% compared with 44.4% in 2023/24, figures from the UK Health Security Agency show.
Duncan Burton, chief nursing officer for England, said: ‘For busy families, it can be hard to fit everything in, but parents will now be able to pop into a pharmacy in their local high street or supermarket to get their little ones protected ahead of winter, when bugs tend to circulate.
‘Flu can make young children and toddlers seriously unwell, and vaccination is the best way to shield them, so we’re making it easier than ever before to get the vaccine closer to home.
‘I urge all parents to bring their children forward – the vaccine, which is typically given to toddlers as a quick, painless spray up the nose is safe, effective, and proven to help prevent hospitalisations from flu – so please check your local pharmacy, book an appointment online or speak to your GP practice.’
Uptake of free flu vaccination also fell last year for both older eligible people and younger high-risk groups.
The UK Health Security Agency said 74.6% of those aged over 65 years had the vaccine by the end of January compared with 77.8% last year and 79.9% in 2022/23.
For those under 65 years in a clinical risk group flu vaccine uptake was 39.7%, down from 41.4% the previous year and 49.1% two years ago.
Health Minister Ashley Dalton said: ‘With winter approaching and flu season just around the corner, this is a crucial step forward in protecting our youngest children when they need it most. By extending vaccination services to high street pharmacies for the first time, we’re making it easier than ever for families to get vital protection closer to home before the cold months hit.
‘Last winter alone, flu accounted for more than 300,000 hospital bed days – and we cannot afford a repeat of that on our NHS this winter. It is exactly the kind of preventative healthcare approach this government is committed to delivering through our 10 Year Health Plan – protecting people before they get sick, especially during the challenging winter months ahead.’
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