However, it comes as a health disinformation study has found that almost a third of parents blame COVID-19 and flu jabs for a rise in cases.

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A new analysis of data from 2013 to 2017 found that children given the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) were less likely to develop GAS infections, UKHSA announced last week (December 16).

Most children between two and three, as well as school-aged children, are offered the nasal spray vaccine each flu season. It was first rolled out in England in 2013, with more school years added with each consecutive year.

UKHSA compared pilot areas where the LAIV vaccine was being offered to all primary school children with areas where it was being incrementally rolled out.

It found lower rates of GAS infections in areas where all primary school children were offered the vaccine, compared to non-pilot areas.

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Just 73.5 in 100,000 children aged two to four caught GAS, compared to 93 per 100,000 children in non-pilot areas.

Rates were also lower for children aged five to 10 in pilot areas, with 50.3 in 100,000 children contracting GAS compared to 57.8 in 100,000 children in non-pilot areas.

Consultant epidemiologist for immunisation and countermeasures at UKHSA, Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, said: “Our findings suggest that the nasal spray vaccine programme, which offers very good protection against flu, may also help contribute to reductions in the rates of GAS infections among children.”

He added that these findings were “particularly important at this time when we are seeing unusually high rates of GAS infection across the population”. 

“Children who catch influenza are at greater risk from subsequent infections, including GAS, so these findings provide yet more reasons for parents of eligible children to bring them forward for the flu vaccine,” he said.

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Study shows parents’ doubts over flu vaccine

 

Meanwhile, a study by behavioural science and misinformation consultancy Lynn found that some parents in the UK were wary about giving their children the nasal flu vaccine, despite flu and GAS cases rising.

Lynn surveyed 626 respondents across the UK between December 6 and 7 “to identify what information was reaching parents and whether accurate health information was reaching them”, it said last week (December 15).

It found that 32% of parents participating in the study thought “that COVID-19 and flu vaccines are partly responsible for an increase in GAS infections”.

Almost half (49%) remained undecided about whether there was a link between nasal flu vaccines and GAS.

Lynn’s head of The Misinformation Cell, Stefan Rollnick, said the study showed “there is a large amount of understandable anxiety among UK parents about GAS – and whenever there is anxiety there is a risk of misinformation spreading”.

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He added that getting accurate information to parents over GAS was “absolutely vital”, adding that UK health authorities were “working desperately” to do so.

Meanwhile, CEO Shayoni Lynn said the organisation’s aim was “to support [the UK’s] health system colleagues and parents navigating this difficult time”.

“We could be facing not just a health crisis but a confidence in our healthcare system also,” she added.

 

UKHSA urges parents to vaccinate children

 

Dr Lopez Bernal emphasised that the nasal spray flu vaccine, typically given to school-aged children and pre-schoolers, “has an excellent safety record and has been given to millions of children in the UK and worldwide”.

He urged “parents and guardians of any reception and primary school-aged children who missed their vaccination [to] contact their local school-aged vaccination service or ask at their school”.

The vaccine is being offered to children from school years seven, eight and nine in December and January, he said, while parents and guardians of children aged two and three and children in a high-risk group should make an appointment with their GP.