Super Bodies: helping babies and children stay well this winter

Super Bodies has simple advice for parents, carers and people who are pregnant on vaccinations, common winter illnesses and how to help protect babies before birth and children as they grow.

Children’s bodies work hard every day to fight off bugs and infections.

While most coughs, colds, sore throats and earaches get better with rest, fluids and time, illnesses such as flu can sometimes make children seriously unwell.

This winter, there are simple steps you can take to help protect their Super Body.

Their Super Body starts before birth

If you’re pregnant, vaccines can help protect you and your baby.

Some of the protection your body makes after vaccination passes to your baby before they are born. This can help protect them during their first weeks and months of life.

Flu vaccine

You can have the flu vaccine at any stage of pregnancy during the flu vaccination programme.

Flu can be more serious when you are pregnant. The vaccine helps protect you. Some protection also passes to your baby and lasts for their first few months after birth.

For winter 2026/27, pregnant women and children can get the free NHS flu vaccine from 1 September 2026.

Whooping cough vaccine

Whooping cough can be very serious for young babies.

The vaccine is usually offered at around 20 weeks of pregnancy. You can have it from 16 weeks.

Protection from the vaccine passes to your baby before birth. This helps protect them until they can have their own vaccination at 8 weeks old.

RSV vaccine

RSV is a common virus. It can cause serious breathing problems in some babies.

The RSV vaccine is offered from 28 weeks of pregnancy. It helps protect your baby from serious RSV illness during their first six months.

You should have the RSV vaccine during every pregnancy.

Have each vaccine when it is offered. You do not need to wait to have your pregnancy vaccines together.

Speak to your midwife, maternity team or GP surgery if you have questions about vaccines during pregnancy.

Protect your child from flu

Flu is not the same as a bad cold.

It can make children very unwell. Every winter, thousands of children in the UK need hospital care because of flu.

Children can also spread flu easily to other people. Vaccinating your child helps protect them and people around them.

For winter 2026/27, the free NHS flu vaccine is offered to:

  • children aged 2 or 3 on 31 August 2026
  • children aged 4 who have not started school
  • school-aged children from Reception to Year 11
  • children aged 6 months to 17 years with certain long-term health conditions.

The children’s flu programme starts from 1 September.

How will my child get their flu vaccine?

Children aged 2 or 3 on 31 August 2026 can get their flu vaccine from their GP surgery from 1 September.

From 1 October, they can also get it from a pharmacy that offers the NHS children’s flu vaccination service.

You may get an invitation from your GP surgery, but you do not need to wait for one.

If your child is 4 but has not started school, where they get their vaccine will depend on when they turned 4.

They may be offered it at a community clinic, GP surgery or pharmacy.

Most children from Reception to Year 11 will be offered their flu vaccine at school during the autumn term.

You will be sent information about how to give consent.

If your child misses their vaccine at school, they should be offered another chance to have it at a community clinic.

Children who are home educated can also have the vaccine at a community clinic.

Some health conditions put children at greater risk of becoming seriously ill with flu.

These include some conditions that affect:

  • breathing, such as some types of asthma
  • the heart
  • the kidneys or liver
  • the brain or immune system

Children with diabetes, sickle cell disease or a learning disability may also be eligible.

If you are not sure, speak to your child’s GP surgery or specialist.

Find a vaccination near you

There are different places to get NHS vaccinations across Essex.

Find local vaccination sites and information for your area.

Find vaccination sites in mid Essex Find vaccination sites in north Essex Find vaccination sites in south east Essex Find vaccination sites in south west Essex Find vaccination sites in west Essex

Not sure which area you need? Choose the area closest to where you live or contact your GP surgery for advice.

Is the children’s flu vaccine a nasal spray?

Most children have the flu vaccine as a quick nasal spray.

There are no needles and it only takes a few seconds.

Some children cannot have the nasal spray. They will be offered a flu vaccine injection instead.

The nasal spray contains a small amount of gelatine from pigs, also called porcine gelatine.

If you do not want your child to have the nasal spray because of the gelatine, an injected flu vaccine that does not contain gelatine is available.

Speak to the person vaccinating your child or choose the injection on the school consent form.

Help their Super Body through winter

Coughs, colds, sore throats and earaches are common in children.

Most are caused by viruses and get better without antibiotics.

Antibiotics do not work against viruses. They should only be used when a healthcare professional says they are needed.

You can help your child by:

  • making sure they get plenty of rest
  • giving them plenty to drink
  • encouraging regular handwashing
  • using medicines such as children’s paracetamol or ibuprofen when needed and suitable for their age
  • making sure they have their vaccinations when offered.

When should I ask for help?

You know your child best.

Contact your GP surgery or NHS 111 if you are worried or your child is getting worse.

Get urgent medical help if your child:

  • is finding it hard to breathe
  • is very sleepy or difficult to wake
  • has a rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it
  • has a seizure
  • shows signs of being seriously unwell.

For a baby under 3 months, get medical advice if they have a temperature of 38°C or above.

Call 999 in a life-threatening emergency.

Common questions about Super Bodies and vaccination

No. Your child cannot get flu from a flu vaccine.

Some children may have a blocked or runny nose after the nasal spray. They may also feel tired or have less appetite for a short time.

These side effects are usually mild and get better within a day or two.

No. Vaccines help your child’s immune system learn how to fight certain infections. Their immune system can still deal with the many other bugs they meet every day.

Yes, if they are in one of the age groups offered it.

Flu can make healthy children very unwell. Thousands of children without a long-term health condition need hospital care because of flu each winter.

Vaccinating children can also help stop flu spreading to babies, people who are pregnant, older people and others who may become seriously ill.

Yes.

Some children need to have an injected flu vaccine instead of the nasal spray.

An injected flu vaccine that does not contain porcine gelatine is also available if you do not want your child to have the nasal spray because of its ingredients.

The NHS recommends the flu, whooping cough and RSV vaccines during pregnancy.

Each vaccine is offered at a time that helps protect you, your baby or both.

Speak to your midwife, GP or maternity team if you have questions or concerns.

Yes.

Vaccination during pregnancy can help your body make protection that passes to your baby before they are born.

This is important because newborn babies are too young to have some vaccines themselves.

For example, the whooping cough vaccine helps protect your baby until they can have their first routine vaccination at 8 weeks.

Yes.

You should have the whooping cough vaccine during every pregnancy. This helps give each baby the best protection.

The RSV vaccine is also recommended during every pregnancy.

Yes.

Vaccines during pregnancy give your baby important early protection. They do not replace your baby’s routine childhood vaccinations.

Make sure your child has their vaccines when they are offered.

Usually not.

Most coughs, colds and sore throats are caused by viruses. Antibiotics do not work against viruses.

Your child’s body will usually fight the infection itself. Rest, fluids and suitable pain relief can help while they recover.

A healthcare professional will tell you if your child needs antibiotics.

You can also find trusted information about vaccinations on the NHS website.