Parents urged to catch up on vaccinations

Half-time is a good time for younger children to catch up with their flu vaccinations

Parents and carers of young children are being urged to use the half-term break to catch up on their flu vaccinations.

Families can also make sure their children are up to date with measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccinations.

If parents missed the in-school vaccinations, they can be booked through GP surgeries or at pharmacies, using the NHS website.

Kate Langford, chief medical officer at NHS Kent and Medway, said: “Flu can be a very unpleasant illness in children, causing fever, stuffy nose, dry cough, sore throat, aching muscles and joints and extreme tiredness.

“It is important that parents make sure children are protected as they can easily spread the illness among their friends and family.”

Families in Sussex can find out what vaccinations are available to school age children here.

Parents and carers in Surrey can find out more here.

In September health officials in Kent warned unvaccinated children were at risk, after a rise in the number of measles cases.