Bradford parents asked to make sure their children gets flu vaccination when offered

News - 30 November 2021

Parents in Bradford are being asked to make sure their children get the flu vaccination this year to protect their children and other family members.
Flu vaccinations

The plea from Bradford Council and Bradford Council for Mosques comes as it is predicted that this year’s flu season could be larger than is typically seen in the UK.

After years of campaigning, the NHS is now offering the injectable flu vaccine, free from porcine content, for parents who are concerned about this ingredient.

Influenza (flu) is a serious and highly infectious disease caused by a virus. In some cases, it can cause severe complications and it kills thousands of people each year.

The nasal spray continues to be the most effective protection against flu in children.

Parents of two and three-year-olds should contact their GP for an appointment,
as can those with children in Years 12 and 13 with long-term health conditions.

School children up to Year 11 will get their vaccination in school if parents
return their consent forms.

Sarah Muckle, Bradford's Director of Public Health, said: “I would encourage all parents to make sure their children get their flu vaccination. Flu is a serious infection that can make your child very ill and nobody wants to see their children suffer unnecessarily.

“It is important that you make sure you have returned consent forms to school to make sure your child gets the protection they need. This is especially important for you if they have an existing health problem because they are more likely to experience complications if they get flu.”

Zulfi Karim, President of Bradford’s Council for Mosques, said: “Ever since child flu vaccinations were introduced, we have been campaigning for the injectable vaccine to be offered alongside the nasal flu spray.

We are aware that a significant number of people in the community were concerned about the nasal spray but still wanted their children to be vaccinated. I am delighted parents are now being given that choice and that our voice has finally been heard – and it is now up to parents to make sure they protect their children by getting them vaccinated. A huge thanks to all those that supported the campaign.

Bradford Council has produced a children's flu leaflet for parents explaining the choice, which can also be downloaded below.

Anyone who has been invited for a flu vaccination and is yet to have it is being reminded to make an appointment.

The main period of flu season is almost here and being vaccinated is an important part of staying well over winter and helping to reduce pressures on the health and care system.

It is important to boost your immunity - your ability to fight off infections – by having the vaccination when it is offered so you are best placed to fight off any infections this winter.

If you have an existing health problem because you are in an at risk group you are 11 times more likely to experience complications if you get flu.

Find out more

Downloads

Bradford Council leaflet on children's flu vaccine options
Download (PDF 188 KB)

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Sarah - Chair of the Board of Trustees

image of Sarah, the Chair of the Board of Trustees

As the Chair of the board of trustees, I work with the other trustees and staff to help set the strategic direction of Healthwatch Bradford and District. We meet regularly to look at finance reports, agree the budget, get updates on the work of the staff team and make any decisions that are important to ensure the charity is as strong and effective as possible. We also work closely with the senior staff team to make sure they have the support they need. I previously managed Healthwatch Bradford and District, and I’m passionate about ensuring our local community has a strong voice in the local NHS. I know from personal experience, as both a patient and a carer, that the NHS can be confusing and it can be hard to have your voice heard. We are a diverse and brilliant community, and it’s vital that every part of it has the chance to speak up and help shape our care.

Outside of my role, I’ve got two young children so I’m often busy with them, but I also love yoga and walking in the woods and moors around the District.

I think Healthwatch Bradford and District does a vital job hearing from people across the District, sharing their experiences and views with the NHS, and helping the health and care system better understand the community. I love that I can support this, and I really enjoy getting to work with the fantastic team.

 

Emma - member of the Board of Trustees

Emma - member of the board of Director

"Healthwatch Bradford and District plays a vital role in making sure every person’s voice is valued, respected, and used to drive meaningful change across our local health and care systems."

I’ve always been driven by a deep belief that people deserve to be heard when it comes to their health, wellbeing, and social care. That belief has shaped my entire career and I’ve spent my life working across health and social care. I have spent time in emergency departments, on hospital wards, within social care services, and alongside community groups where I’ve witnessed extraordinary dedication across our system, but I’ve also seen where things fall short. Those experiences have strengthened my conviction that listening to people’s real stories is the key to creating better, fairer, and more responsive services.

As a Trustee of Healthwatch Bradford and District, I’m proud to help ensure that this principle sits at the heart of everything we do. My role involves supporting the leadership team with strategic decisions, guiding our communications, and helping to shape the organisation’s public presence so that the Bradford and district community knows we are here to champion what matters to them.

Outside of work, life is full and joyful. I have a large, lively family, I foster dogs (which brings chaos and love into the house), and I find calm and creativity through crochet.

 

Jo - member of the Board of Trustees

image of Jo

“I’m committed to making sure every voice, especially those often overlooked, shapes the future of our local health and care services.”

Alongside my work as an Aviation Ops Co‑ordinator, I serve as a trustee where my role is to read, question, and challenge. I bring real‑life experience into board decisions, always trying to make sure services and strategies work for the people they’re meant to help. Because I commute between cities for my job, I get to see how health services operate in different parts of the country. That wider perspective really influences my understanding of services, especially when I see how differently things can be done in other areas of the UK.

I have a particular interest in children’s services, the elderly, and vulnerable communities as I feel these people have seldom heard voices and need to be supported within healthcare services. As a Healthwatch board member, I champion the voice of local people in health and social care. I use lived experience, community insight, and independent challenge to influence decisions, improve services, and ensure people are heard. I’m driven by a belief that everyone deserves safe, fair, and accessible care, and that real change happens when the public voice is at the table and taken seriously.

I’m also currently studying a diploma in Aesthetics. When I’m qualified, I hope to be able to help people with cleft palates or other facial issues or scarring. It’s important to me to support people who might otherwise struggle to access the help they need. I really agree with the sentiment that the health and care system works best when it truly listens to the people it serves.