GPs plea: Vaccinate children to protect grandparents and vulnerable loved ones at Christmas
Dr Kiran Patel, Medical Director of Bury GP Federation, said that he was making an “urgent, heart-felt plea to parents and carers” as figures show only a third of two and three-year-olds across Bury are vaccinated against flu. He said: “Children are super-spreaders and with festive family gatherings, plus flu infections rising fast in younger age groups, getting children vaccinated is one of the best ways to prevent serious illness, especially for grandparents and vulnerable loved ones.”
Free nasal flu spray vaccinations are available to two and three-year-olds via GP surgeries and pharmacies, but to date only 33% are vaccinated across Bury – that means two thirds of little children are currently at risk.”
Dr Patel explained that the need for winter vaccinations is greater than ever with NHS warnings of an unprecedented flu wave. He said: “Flu can be a horrible illness in young children. They are at high risk from serious flu complications and hospitalisation. Given as a nasal spray, the vaccine reduces the chance of children needing hospital care for flu by around two-thirds.”
Hospital admissions for flu across Bury are up 72%* compared to the same time last year and NHS England figures show an average of 1,717 patients were in hospital with flu recently – the highest on record for this time of year – with cases more than 50% higher than last year (1,098)**
Bury GP Federation’s nursing team has been boosting vaccination uptake by delivering flu vaccinations directly to young children in nurseries. Nurse, Aqsa Arshad, has delivered hundreds of vaccines across Bury’s nurseries. This has been hailed as a ‘life saver’ by busy, working parents unable to organise separate appointments. She says: “The nasal spray vaccination is quick and painless. Parents have told me of relatives hospitalised with flu, and how older, vulnerable family members are worried about Christmas socialising when flu cases are increasing.”
Dr Patel added: “We’re doing everything we can, but despite opportunities for vaccinations across GP practices and pharmacies, 67% of two and three-year-olds eligible for the vaccine remain unprotected. Please help us to help you and your family stay well this Christmas.”
Children eligible for the flu vaccine include:
- all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2025
- primary and secondary school aged children (from reception to Year 11)
- children with certain long-term health conditions (aged 6 months to less than 18 years)
- all children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to under 18 years
Parents and carers in England should have received an invitation for their child’s flu vaccination either from the GP surgery or school. Christmas catch-up vaccination clinics have been organised across Greater Manchester including on Tuesday 23 December at East Bury Family Hub, 25 Dorset Drive, Bury, BL9 9DN from 10am-3pm. A list of catch-up clinics – and of pharmacies providing the vaccine for two and three-year-olds can be found on Greater Manchester Integrated Care’s website.
