Worried Scots mums say they won't give permission for their children to get the flu vaccine this year amid fears over coronavirus.
Parents across the country have been receiving letters from NHS Scotland and schools to let them know it's time to roll out the annual immunisation to children.
All children in Scotland aged 2-12 years and not yet in secondary school are eligible for the free immunisation.
However some parents have taken to social media to speak out about their mistrust of the vaccine - which is a live virus administered through a nasal spray. The vaccine is injected to adults.
But some parents are claiming they "don't trust" the immunisation and will be opting out this year.
Posting on Facebook, one mum said: "Mine aren't having it this year I don't trust what's in them after all this covid cr*p."
Another echoed her fears saying: "Not doing mine this year. Really don’t trust it."
Another said: "Mine have never had it done! It’s a new thing, I don’t trust it."
One mum claimed to work for the NHS and said she definitely wouldn't allow her children t get immunised.
She said: "Seriously I’ve worked NHS 20 years and I wouldn’t take the vaccine nor allow my kid to. It’s full of sh**e and it’s rarely the right strain!"
Other parents worried the vaccine would be too much for children after they had been shielded from illnesses over lockdown.
One said: "My worry is with lock down, being kept away from people, having everything cleaned so much not coming into contact with the usual bugs and bacteria their tiny immune systems won’t have had to put any real work in for some time and the flu (nasal) vaccine might be too much for them at the moment."
Other prents just thought the flu vaccine was 'pointless': "I’ve never got my kids done with the flu nasal spray. It’s pointless. I can understand adults but my kids have a better immune system than me," added one.
But NHS Scotland are encouraging parents to have their children immunised in an effort to help the fight against coronavirus.
A statement on the website reads: "With coronavirus (COVID-19) around it's more important than ever to get the flu vaccine.
"It’s likely flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 will both be spreading this autumn and winter.
"Influenza (flu) is a respiratory virus with similar symptoms to COVID-19.
"The flu vaccine will reduce the risk of your child getting or spreading flu to friends and family who are at greater risk from flu and COVID-19, such as grandparents or people with health conditions.
"The more people who are vaccinated against flu, the less likely it is that there will be a spike in flu.
"To help our NHS avoid the pressure that a spike in seasonal flu would put on top of COVID-19."
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