Every autumn term all primary school aged children in England (from Reception class to Year 6) are offered a flu vaccination by the NHS school aged immunisation service.  Most children are offered a nasal spray flu vaccine.  The benefits include protection against flu for the children who receive the vaccine and reduced transmission of flu in the community. This is because children play a key role in the transmission of flu, including to those who may be at higher risk from the complications from flu such as the elderly.

Since the start of the children’s nasal spray vaccine programme, research has shown that vaccinating large numbers of children has reduced the circulation of flu in the community. This has reduced the number of GP consultations for flu like illness for both the vaccinated children and the wider community and has also reduced hospital admissions from flu.

More details for parents can be found here: https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/child-flu-vaccine/ 

If you think your child is not eligible for the nasal flu vaccine, please contact the school age immunisation team about the injectable flu vaccine.