PARENTS with children aged between two and five are being urged to get them immunised against flu ahead of winter.

Appointment letters have been arriving through local letterboxes, inviting parents to make sure their kids receive the free flu nasal spray.

Health chiefs have said the vaccination programme is particularly important this year, as immunity levels to flu may be lower than normal.

They added that the spray is a quick and painless way of delivering the vaccine and won’t give the child flu.

It should start to protect most children about 10 to 14 days after being administered, with NHS staff keen to vaccinate youngsters before flu viruses start circulating.

Dr Nicola Steedman, Scotland’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer, said: “Flu can be serious, even for healthy children and young people.

“Flu season usually begins in December and the sooner your child is protected from flu, the better.

“It is likely that our immunity to flu is lower than in previous years, due to lower levels of the flu viruses circulating last year while essential pParents urged to back NHS drive to defeat fluublic health measures were in place, so it’s more important than ever to get your child vaccinated.

“If you have a child aged between two and five years who is not yet at school, you should look out for a flu vaccine appointment letter being sent to your home if you haven’t already received one.

“The flu vaccine is given to children as a quick, painless nasal spray and just feels like a tickle in their nose. It offers the best protection from flu this winter and will also help reduce additional pressures on the NHS caused by flu-related illness, so we’d urge all parents and carers to take up the offer of the free flu vaccine for their children this year.”

Those who have missed their child’s appointment can contact NHS staff on the phone number printed on the letter they received. Anyone who has lost their letter can call the Flu Vaccination Helpline on 0800 030 8013.

For more information about the flu vaccine, visit www.nhsinform.scot/childflu or contact your GP surgery.