Strictly Come Dancing's Dr Ranj urges parents to take up nasal spray flu vaccine

For the first time this year the childhood flu vaccine will be offered to nine and 10-year-olds in the county - and one well known children's doctor from Kent is urging parents to take up the offer.

Cbeebies star and now Strictly dancer Dr Ranj is encouraging families to sign their eligible children up to the NHS childhood winter flu vaccination programme.

Year 5 children will this year join two and three-year olds and children in school years reception to Year 4 in being able to take up the immunisation.

Unlike the common cold, flu causes a fever, aching muscles, extreme tiredness in children, a stuffy nose, sore throat and dry cough. In serious cases it can lead to other complications including painful ear infections, acute bronchitis or pneumonia.

The virus changes continuously year on year with health professionals constantly working to outsmart flu with a vaccine that can respond to the strains of flu in circulation. And while you can catch influenza all year round, the chances of being infected is much more likely in winter.

But in a recent survey of more than 2,000 parents with children aged two to 10 over half (52%) admitted to still considering flu to be like 'a bad cold'.

It's this common misconception that Dr Ranj, who was born in Chatham and went to school in Strood, is concerned could affect the uptake of the childhood flu vaccination. And he is encouraging parents to book a vaccine appointment with their GP if their child isn't yet at school, or return school consent forms when they come home.
He said: "The truth is that although the cold and the flu are both caused by viruses, the flu can be much more serious and symptoms can be much more severe and land you with complications like bronchitis or pneumonia.

"We have millions of children that have been immunised against flu and we know that it has got a great safety record. It continues to be recommended on the NHS and I recommend it as well."