BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE

JULY 20, 2022

Brrrr! We’re officially in the depths of winter, and although you might be concerned about where your next hot chocolate (or hot water bottle) is coming from, influenza should actually be front of mind.  

Lots of families have already been struck by this nasty illness, and if you have an under-five, it’s especially important to guard them against flu.  

Influenza can be serious for young children, and although the latest RCH National Child Health Poll found a worrying level of hesitancy about the flu vaccine, Dr Anthea Rhodes is here to explain why the flu jab is safe, and super important, for your little one.   

Dr Rhodes is a highly respected paediatrician, Director of the RCH National Child Health Poll and mum-of-four, so she can be trusted to ease any concerns you have.  

If you are hesitant about giving your under-five the flu jab, then you’re not alone.  

Dr Rhodes’ latest parenting poll found that only 50% of Australian parents planned to give their kids the flu vaccine this year, with 27% undecided and 23% not keen at all.    

She says, “One of the reasons we found parents were reluctant to vaccinate their children against the flu this year is that they weren’t aware that the vaccine is necessary. Our research showed one in three parents were not aware that healthy children can get seriously unwell from the flu.”   

A proportion of parents also told Dr Rhodes’ pollsters that, “They are feeling ‘vaccine fatigue’ and think their kids have had ‘too many’ vaccinations recently.” 

In between the usual schedule of childhood jabs and continuing COVID-19 concerns, Dr Rhodes acknowledges that, “There has been an overload of health messaging for parents and families lately.” However, she says, “The flu vaccine is such an important step in keeping us safe.” 

For under-fives, this is especially true.  

Dr Rhodes says, “Children are more likely to catch the flu than adults, and our very young children may be particularly susceptible to the flu this year, because they have had limited exposure over the past couple of years.” 

Catching influenza can have serious consequences for our kiddies.  

The Poll tells us that under-fives are the group most likely to end up in hospital for complications affecting the lungs or brain, and although Dr Rhodes says the flu will be, “Relatively mild” for most children, “Flu can make previously healthy kids seriously unwell.”  

She says there’s a lot of flu in the community this year, with rising cases of influenza and other respiratory illnesses, and, “We don't want to let the flu make our kids really unwell.” 

You can rest assured that the flu vaccine is, “Safe, effective and recommended” for little people.  

Dr Rhodes says it’s the best way to protect your child against all the flu that’s circulating in the community (including the childcare community), and if you’re concerned about cost, then don’t be!  

The flu jab is free for children aged six months to five years. 

If your child is worried about getting yet another needle, there are a few things you can do to ease their jab-related heebie-jeebies. 

For starters, it helps to stay relaxed and positive before the appointment.  

Dr Rhodes says, “If your child is old enough to discuss the vaccination, focus on how vaccines give us special protection, rather than on the procedure itself.”  

During the vaccination, she says, “You can try to use distractions, such as blowing bubbles, singing a song, or simply looking away. And afterwards, you could give your little one a reward, such as a sticker, and encourage and praise them for having the vaccination.” 

Be aware that it is still possible for your little one to get the flu after being vaccinated, but their symptoms are likely to be much milder. 

If your child does get the flu, Dr Rhodes says you can treat them at home, “With plenty of bed rest, encouraging them to drink lots of fluids, and using pain relief with paracetamol if needed.” 

The good news is that most kiddies will recover within about seven days.  

Dr Rhodes says, “If you are particularly worried about your child and they become more unwell, or are having difficulty breathing or showing signs of dehydration, contact your GP or health practitioner,” and definitely don’t send your child to care while they’re unwell with influenza.  

However, as with all ailments, prevention is better than a cure. 

Dr Rhodes is encouraging all of us parents to vaccinate our families against influenza to stay safe this flu season, and if you haven’t booked a flu jab yet, now is a great time to do so. Then, you can focus on that hot chocolate!  

An update on the COVID-19 vaccine for under-fives 

We’re seeing a big increase in COVID-19 cases this winter ‘thanks’ to the new Omicron subvariants, BA.4 and BA.5, but can report that the Therapeutic Goods Administration (our national medical regulator) has ‘provisionally approved’ a child-friendly dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for under-fives.  

This doesn’t mean you can rush out and book the vax for your child.  

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) still needs to decide the best path forward, and you can read more here. 

Welcome news for NSW parents 

While we’re on the topic of kids’ health, it’s also great to see that the NSW government is introducing something called the Brighter Beginnings package.  

This will ensure all children get a full range of developmental checks before they start school, and it will also make babies’ Blue Book digital. For more details, click here.