A DOLGELLAU doctor has warned parents to get their child immunised from flu as soon as possible.

Health officials in Wales are urging parents of two to seven-year-olds to get their children vaccinated against influenza this winter, to protect them from catching and spreading this potentially serious, highly contagious illness.

This year, the programme is being extended to seven-year-olds to help protect even more children from flu.

Flu can affect children severely. In recent years, in Wales, children and adults have been admitted to hospital and intensive care units with flu.

The flu immunisation programme offers a simple nasal spray vaccine for children aged two to seven to help protect them from catching flu or spreading it to the people around them. It is most effective if given before flu starts to circulate.

For two and three-year-old children, the vaccine will be given at their local GP surgery, and for children in reception class and school years one, two and three, it will be given by the school nursing service at their school.

Consultant paediatrician Dr Sian Owen at the children’s centre, Dolgellau, explained why the vaccination is important “Young children are particularly at risk of serious complications of flu for a number of reasons, she said.

“Not least, their immune systems are not yet fully developed, so they can’t fight off the flu as well as older children and adults.

“Flu is easily spread within families, and also, because of the nature of nurseries, playgroups and the school environment, toddlers and children are often in very close proximity to each other where they are especially susceptible to any circulating germs.

"Vaccination can help to stop the spread by protecting individuals and creating ‘herd’ immunity,” she said.

Read the full story in this Thursday’s Meirionnydd edition of the Cambrian News