Solent NHS Trust is offering flu vaccinations to primary age children in Portsmouth, Southampton and on the Isle of Wight
This autumn term, Solent NHS Trust’s School Aged Immunisation (SAI) Service is offering flu vaccinations to all eligible primary school aged children in Southampton, Portsmouth and on the Isle of Wight.
Solent’s SAI Service is running the first phase of sessions up until the Christmas break in schools and community clinics, offering a quick and convenient way for primary school aged children to have their flu vaccination and keep up to date with their routine schedule of annual immunisations.
Flu is an unpredictable virus which can be particularly prevalent during the autumn and winter months. Children can carry the flu virus and spread it to those who may be at higher risk from the complications of flu such as the elderly, so the vaccination is the best defence people have against it.
Solent’s SAI service is asking parents/carers to complete an e-consent form online ahead of the vaccination sessions, with links to the consent forms being emailed out. Parents should also complete a consent form if they do not wish their child to receive the vaccine.
Angela Anderson, Deputy Chief Nurse at Solent NHS Trust, said: “School age immunisations play a really important role in protecting the school aged children in our families and communities from contagious viruses and diseases including seasonal flu.”
“We are encouraging all parents and families of eligible children to take up this quick and convenient flu vaccination offer so that their children are protected this autumn and winter.
“Our teams want to make the immunisation experience as easy and accessible as possible which is why we are encouraging primary pupils across Portsmouth, Southampton and on the Isle of Wight to come forward and get vaccinated when invited. Our vaccinators are also on hand to answer any questions parents or carers may have so that they can make a fully informed choice for their children.”
Beyond this autumn term offer, the SAI service will continue its year-round schedule of vaccinations. Emails and further communications will follow from the SAI service.
The SAI service also runs community clinics for those who are educated at home or in other settings, and for those who have missed their school vaccination session.
More information and links to the e-consent form can be found on Solent’s website along with the SAI service contact details.