Parents of children aged between two and five in Helensburgh and Lomond are being encouraged to join the fight against flu this winter by ensuring their children get their flu vaccination.

GP practices across the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area are providing the free nasal flu vaccine in a bid to ensure young children are protected.

Primary school children will receive their vaccination at school.

By reducing transmission of the virus, particularly to at-risk groups like the elderly, the child flu vaccination programme is expected to eventually prevent an estimated additional 200 deaths per year, and 1,100 hospitalisations from flu.

Public health minister Aileen Campbell said:“We’re urging all parents across Scotland to join the fight against flu by getting their children vaccinated as early as possible this winter.

“The free nasal vaccine only takes a few minutes and can protect your child from flu for up to a year, so it really is the best defence against the virus which can be extremely infectious and serious.

"The nasal spray is painless, has an excellent safety record and it doesn’t cause flu.”