Biggest-ever flu vaccination programme launched
By News Scotland
The biggest-ever flu vaccination programme Scotland has ever seen has been launched.
A fifth of the population will be offered a free flu vaccination, with those aged over 65 and those with conditions that put them at greater risk from the disease getting the jab, as well as carers and health and social care workers.
For the first time, the vaccination is being offered to all children by the NHS, instead of just those youngsters who are in “at risk” groups.
About 120,000 two and three-year-olds and about 100,000 primary school pupils will be offered the vaccination — which is given to children using a nasal spray rather than injection — over the 2013-14 flu season.
By the end of 2015, about one million children aged between two and 17 will have had the chance to be immunised.
Dr Nicola Steedman, the Scottish Government’s senior medical officer, stressed the importance of getting immunised.
“Every year we see examples of how devastating flu can be,” she said.
“For those with existing health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart or liver problems, flu can result in serious complications.
“Flu can also be very serious for children, particularly the youngest ones, who have little or no immunity to the infection, which is why we are rolling out the new childhood flu immunisation programme.”