AN EXTRA 8,000 children across Oxfordshire are entitled to a flu vaccine this winter under new health policy.

A call has gone out to parents to take up the nasal flu vaccine as it emerged barely 50 per cent of eligible children in the county benefited last year.

The NHS introduced free vaccinations for children aged two and three last year, and this winter it has been extended to four year olds, of whom there are 8,299 registered in the county.

Rather than with a needle, this vaccination is done through a nasal spray.

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Nikki Fitter, of Abingdon, is one parent who has already taken advantage of the change.

The communications consultant got her four-year-old son Henry vaccinated at her local surgery.

Mrs Fitter, 38, said: “My children seem particularly susceptible to high temperatures and so getting the flu vaccination for Henry seemed like a no-brainer.

“The vaccination was easy and painless, it took just a few seconds for Henry to receive the vaccination. He actually smiled through the process.”

NHS England figures show that last year a total of 4,371 two year olds in the county got the flu vaccination out of the 8,915 that were eligible – a 49 per cent uptake.

Only 45.3 per cent of three year olds in Oxfordshire were vaccinated against the virus, 3,854 children out of the 8,517 registered.

Paula Jackson, consultant in public health for NHS England (Thames Valley), said: “The children’s vaccination programme was introduced last year and so it takes some time to raise people’s awareness of it.

“We are expecting uptake numbers to rise.”

All children aged between two and four are entitled to the free vaccination, in the hope it will prevent the virus spreading around nurseries and pre-schools.

Miss Jackson added: “It is a very effective way to prevent a child suffering the nasty effects of flu, and to help stop the spread of infection.”

Parents of children eligible for the vaccine should have been automatically contacted by their GP or schools in September and October.

If your child is aged between two and four and you have not received any information, contact your GP or practice nurse.

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