PARENTS of young children in Basingstoke and Deane are being urged to get their young ones vaccinated before winter.

With nursery and school terms well underway, parents and guardians of children aged two and three are encouraged not to put off getting the free flu vaccination for their children.

This year children aged 2 and 3, or in school years R to five, are all eligible for the flu vaccination on the NHS.

The child-friendly nasal spray, delivers a painless squirt into each nostril, making administration to this age group quick and easy.

Children aged two and three years old can visit their GP for the nasal spray vaccination; while school nurses are running clinics for children in years Reception, one, two, three, four and five. Children of all ages with a health condition that puts them at greater risk of flu are also eligible for the flu vaccine.

North Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group’s clinical chair, Nicola Decker, said: “It is important we protect young children from the flu virus in time for winter and get them vaccinated now. Children can become very poorly if they catch flu, impacting on the wider family, as parents/carers may have to take time off work to look after them. The nasal spray contains viruses that have been weakened to prevent them from causing flu, but will help children to build up immunity.

“Protecting your child can stop flu spreading to other children and the family, especially babies and grandparents, who may be at higher risk from flu.”