Health visitors from Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust are encouraging pregnant women and mums to two to three year olds to get their flu vaccine to stay well this winter.

Deborah Henson, Health Visiting Team Leader at Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust said “Flu can be horrible for little children and if they get it, they can spread it around the whole family. They tend to get the same symptoms as adults such as fever, headache, aching muscles. The vaccine is free from your GP for children and if you are pregnant.”

For children aged two to three, the flu vaccine is not an injection; it is just a quick nasal spray, which they can get at their GP.

If you are pregnant the flu vaccine is particularly important because pregnancy natural weakens the body’s immune system and as a result flu may cause serious complications for you and your baby. You may be less able to fight off infections that increases the risk of becoming ill as a result of flu.

The Care Trust’s immunisation team will be visiting schools across the district to offer children in school years one, two and three the nasal spray flu vaccine.

Flu vaccination is part of the Stay Well This Winter campaign, a joint initiative from the NHS and Public Health England, to help the public ward off common winter illnesses. The Care Trust’s community healthcare teams are backing this important campaign and supporting people across Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven.

For further information on staying well and protecting yourself and your child against flu this winter visit https://www.bdct.nhs.uk/stay-well-this-winter.