Over 4,700 children in Ireland required hospital treatment for the complications of flu between 2009 and 2019, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has reported.

According to the figures, a total of 4,750 children needed hospital treatment for flu complications, of which 183 were admitted to intensive care. Forty-one children died during this 10-year period.

The figures were released to coincide with the start of the children’s flu vaccination programme. Parents of all children aged between two and 17 years are being asked to get their children vaccinated against flu.

This year, there are 2 different types of flu vaccine being offered to different groups:

-Quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) for at-risk groups including people who are 65 and over, healthcare workers, pregnant women and those aged 18 to 64 with long-term medical conditions

-Nasal spray flu vaccine for children aged two to 17 years.

The nasal vaccine, which is available from participating GPs and pharmacies, is free of charge. It simply involves one spray into each of a child’s nostrils.

According to Dr Aparna Keegan, a specialist in public health medicine and flu lead with the HSE’s National Immunisation Office, children are twice as likely as adults to catch flu. She highlighted that the vaccine is safe and effective and will reduce the risk of a children getting sick or needing to go to hospital.

“The nasal flu vaccine is also the recommended vaccine for children who may have chronic health conditions. We recommend speaking to a trusted health professional about the flu vaccine recommended for your child. If it’s not possible for them to get the nasal flu vaccine, they can get the flu injection instead,” she explained.

Symptoms of flu in children can include a high temperature, muscle pains, headache and extreme fatigue.

The HSE is also reminding the parents of children and teenagers that it is safe to get the Covid-19 vaccine at the same time as the flu vaccine. It is also safe for children to get the nasal flu vaccine at the same time as any of the vaccines that may be offered to them through the HSE’s schools immunisation programme. 

The MMR vaccine is offered in junior infants and the HPV, Tdap and MenACWY vaccines are offered to those in their first year of secondary school.