A new study by the Irish Patients Association (IPA) reveals growing hesitancy among parents regarding flu vaccines for children, with more than half of parents choosing not to vaccinate their children against flu last year. This trend comes despite evidence showing significant impact on school attendance and family life.
The research, which surveyed 1,062 people, found that 53% of parents hesitated to get their children vaccinated against winter flu, an increase from 44% in 2023. Notably, 55% of parents reported their children missing school due to flu or flu-like illnesses last winter, with one in five families relying more heavily on grandparents for childcare during illness periods.
Time constraints emerged as a significant barrier, with 17% of parents citing lack of time to arrange vaccinations as their main reason for not proceeding. Dr Lisa Cunningham, consultant in Emergency Medicine, emphasized the importance of the nasal spray flu vaccine, which is freely available for children aged two to 17 through schools, pharmacies, and GPs.
Stephen McMahon, IPA spokesman, highlighted how flu and flu-like conditions significantly impact families, noting that time constraints remain a key obstacle to vaccination uptake.