Parents and carers in England have been urged to book their 2 and 3-year-old children in for nasal flu vaccines ahead of the winter months.

NHS England will be contacting more than a million parents from Tuesday to inform them that the nasal spray vaccine is available.

Ahead of the winter months - when flu cases spike, school children and other groups such as pregnant women, older people and those with health conditions will be able to get a vaccine.

For children, the flu vaccine is usually given as a quick and painless spray up the nose, requiring no injection.

Anyone who cannot have porcine gelatine in medical products is offered an injection instead.

Parents urged to book their 2 and 3-year-old children in for the flu vaccine

The flu tends to peak around December and January and can be rather serious, leading to some hospital admissions.

In the current phase of the NHS rollout, pregnant women and children aged two or three can have a vaccine, alongside all schoolchildren and any youngster in a clinical risk group.

From next month, flu vaccines will be rolled out to anyone aged 65 and over, those aged 18 to 65 in clinical risk groups, and those in care homes. Slots will be available to book online from September 23.

Other groups such as carers in receipt of the carer’s allowance and those who are the main carers of an elderly or disabled person can also get a vaccine, as can those who are close contacts of immunocompromised people.

NHS workers and carers working in care homes are also eligible.

Steve Russell, NHS national director for vaccinations and screening, said: “The flu vaccine is our best defence against these winter viruses, as well as helping to reduce pressure in hospitals over the winter period as demand increases.

“The flu virus puts thousands of people in hospital each year and vaccinations help us to keep more people well so I would urge everyone eligible to book their jabs when they become available, to protect themselves and people around them.”