Flu vaccination recommended (and free) for under-5s

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Flu vaccination recommended (and free) for under-5s

• Flu vaccination to be mandatory for all aged care centre visitors
• Free flu shot for kids under five

While influenza vaccination uptake is at record levels for adults, children under the age of five have been slow to have their shots.

Even though these shots are now available free on the national immunisation program, only one in 16 children have had their shots, according to government data.

In NSW 586,000 doses were ordered for under fives but only 35,867 have had the immunisation.

The University of Adelaide study surveyed 539 parents and also found only 33 per cent knew of the recommendation that children under the age of five should receive the annual influenza vaccine.

Nine-month-old Willow Ritchie ended up in hospital very sick with influenza.

Robinson Research Institute at the University of Adelaide deputy director Professor Helen Marshall said the “results are raising serious concerns not just about low awareness of the flu vaccination for children but that parents may now be reluctant to keep up with vaccination schedules”.

“Healthy children die from flu every year and we need to make sure they are protected,” Prof Marshall said.

Mother of eight Leanne Ritchie from Warragamba underestimated influenza in children until her youngest, Willow, ended up in hospital at nine months of age.

“She got terribly sick, she was lethargic, went off her feeds, was not keeping anything down and when we got to hospital she tested positive for influenza A.

Leanne Ritchie and her daughter Willow, now 18 months and recovered.

“It was a shock to me, I didn’t realise how it impacted children, I was so naive.

“This year, now that it is on the schedule, she will get the flu shot, all the kids will.”

Last year Pilbara two-year-old Elijah Huynh died from influenza A — one of more than 220 Australians who succumbed to the virus last year.

Sydney University immunisation expert Professor Robert Booy said young children were often more vulnerable to influenza than adults due to a lack of immunity.

The flu accounts for a third of all hospitalisations in children under two.

Professor Robert Booy. Picture: Australian Academy of Science

“A lot of parents seem to underestimate how dangerous influenza can be for kids. We know that children less than 15 years accounted for 27 per cent of all influenza notifications in 2017,” he said.

“The influenza vaccine not only protects this vulnerable group but it also helps to stop the spread in the community.”

Source: Daily Telegraph

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