Primary school-aged children to be offered a flu vaccination this autumn
This autumn term, primary and junior school-aged children across Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight are being offered a flu vaccination by Solent NHS Trust’s School Aged Immunisation Service.
Children catch and spread flu easily and vaccination is a quick and straightforward way of protecting themselves as well as others close to them who are vulnerable to flu, such as babies and older people.
Children are being offered a nasal spray vaccine which is safe, effective and offers the best protection for children against the flu.
The Solent school aged immunisation service will be in touch with schools in the Portsmouth, Southampton, and the Isle of Wight area to arrange a vaccination session and parents and guardians can complete a quick e-consent process ahead of the sessions for ease.
Angela Anderson, Deputy Chief Nurse, said, “flu can be an unpleasant illness for children. Vaccinating children not only helps to protect them against this illness and enables them to stay in school, but also helps to stop them passing on flu to older relatives and those more vulnerable who may suffer complications.”
If pupils are not able to attend the school sessions, there will be further opportunities to receive their vaccine at alternative venues.
Find out more about who is eligible for the flu vaccine here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/child-flu-vaccine/
Discover more about Solent’s School Aged Immunisation Service: https://www.solent.nhs.uk/our-services/services-listings/school-aged-immunisation-service/