Annual Flu Vaccination

The Nasal Flu vaccine is delivered in schools each year from Mid September to the end of term in December. This year the Nasal Flu Vaccination will be offered to all children in Years R to 11, and up to the age of 25 if attending a special school.

How effective is the nasal flu programme?

The flu programme in schools protects not only the child, but their family, and the community they live and go to school in.

In the first 2 years of the school nasal spray vaccination programme starting there was:

A 94% decrease in children attended the GP with influenza like illness
A 74% decrease in A&E attendances for respiratory conditions in primary aged children
A 93% decrease in hospital admissions for children with confirmed influenza
A 59% decrease in adults attending the GP with influenza like illness

Why should my child have the vaccine?

Flu is an unpleasant and occasionally serious illness which can lead to children spending days in bed rather than being at school and participating in everyday family life. It can also have serious complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia.

Children catch and spread flu easily so vaccinating not only protects them but also those around them including those who are elderly, vulnerable or unwell.

Getting flu and other viral infections can increase the risk of invasive Group A Strep infection in the following weeks. Invasive Group A Strep infections increased during the 2009-10 flu pandemic. The flu vaccine reduces the risk of having flu and group A Strep infections at the same time therefore it reduces the chance of developing invasive Group A Strep. We strongly recommend children who are eligible get a flu vaccine – it’s the best way to protect them from serious illness. The flu vaccine for children has an excellent safety record, this includes the nasal spray given to school aged children and pre-schoolers, which has been given to millions of children in the UK and worldwide.

The Flu vaccine

Flu Vaccination Information

This annual vaccine, is usually given via a nasal spray and is therefore very well tolerated by little ones as well as those who may be older (up to aged 25 years) The nasal spray, Fluenz Tetra, is a live vaccine and due to it being live some children may not be able to have it and will require the inactivated injected vaccination. It is preferable to only administer the inactivated vaccine when there is a medical reason to do so. The nasal spray is much more effective and has fewer side effects.

Further information for parents and carers about the flu vaccination can be found below.

More information

Detailed information about the Fluenz Tetra can be found below.

More information

Fluenz Tetra uses porcine gelatine as a stabiliser during the manufacturing process, however there is no porcine DNA present in the administered vaccine due to it being so highly processed.

Or there is a clinical reason why your child cannot have the nasal vaccination.

If you object to the gelatine content of the nasal vaccine, then an injectable porcine free alternative is available.

You can complete a consent form for the injectable vaccine by accessing the consent link, declining the nasal spray, and then completing the consent for the injectable flu vaccination. The injectable flu vaccination will be given to children at Secondary School when the team attend their school. For primary school aged children, you will be sent a link by the Immunisation team to book into a community clinic for the injectable vaccination to be given. For children who attend a special school and require the injectable flu vaccination, please speak to the immunisation service who will offer the vaccination in line with your choice to meet the needs of your child.

If you have any queries regarding this process, or would like support, please contact our Single Point of Access (SPA) on 0300 247 0200.

If there is a clinical reason whey your child cannot have the nasal vaccination, please decline this and complete the option for the injectable flu instead.

Detailed information about the inactivated flu injection can be found below

More information

How to consent

You will receive an email from your child’s school with some information about the programme, and a consent link to give you access to our electronic consent form. Each school has a unique code that will be provided to you with the consent link, and you will need to use this to access the consent form. For Electively Home Educated children, a code will be provided with the information shared by your EHE team. If your child is on role at a school but not currently attending, please complete a consent form using their registered school and add a comment that they are not currently attending when completing the form. We can then provide a link to book into a community clinic. If you prefer to discuss this, please contact our SPA on 0300 247 0200.

We request that you complete the consent form as soon as it is received to ensure your child is vaccinated in the school session. You can also access the consent response to let us know if you do not want your child to receive the vaccination.

To help us work with your child’s school, please complete the link before the deadline that is advised by the school. This helps us to work with your child’s school and ensure the session runs safely and smoothly with minimal disruption to the school day.

Each school has a consent closing date which is at least 24 hours before the session to allow for safe preparation by the School Aged Immunisation Service and the School. You can still provide a consent up to and including on the day of the school session by telephoning our Single Point of Access on 0300 247 0200. If you do this, please ensure that your secondary school aged child is made aware and ask them to attend the session in school. If your child is at a primary school, please contact the school to inform them, as they will not be on the master list to attend the session. Whilst we will make every effort to vaccinate all children with a valid consent, if the consent is provided after the school closure date, we cannot guarantee that this can be facilitated for logistical and safety reasons within the session. Please ensure that your child is aware of whether you have provided consent or not.

If your child is educated at home you will receive a letter from the School Aged Immunisation Service via your Electively Home Educated Lead within the council, with details. With their unique code to enter in the ‘School Code’ section of the form. Once the consent is completed you will be sent a link to the on-line clinic booking system where you will able to book an appointment at a venue and time that is convenient to you.

If you have any queries about the consent form or process, or would like any support with completion or booking an appointment, please do not hesitate to contact our Single Point of Access (SPA) on 0300 247 0200.