Nasal flu vaccination set to be given to school children

THOUSANDS of children are set to be protected from the flu again this winter thanks to an annual nasal flu vaccination programme.

Pupils from reception to year six across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland will be covered by the vaccination as the community immunisations team travel to more than 300 schools.

As part of the Leicestershire NHS Partnership Trust’s scheme, last year more than 50 thousand children were vaccinated by a dedicated team of specialist nurses who on average protected 1,195 children a day.

Suzanne Leatherland, immunisation service manager for LPT, said: “Once again we have an amazing team of over 100 staff to deliver the nasal flu vaccination in partnership with schools.

“Information packs have already been sent out with the dates for the immunisation sessions.

“Alongside the consent form, parents are provided with an information leaflet about the vaccination and our Health for Kids website offers a childfriendly version of this information, which parents can share with their children.”

The Fluenz Tetra vaccine is a simple, painless nasal spray that protects children against many strains of the flu virus. It is given each autumn.

Dr Tim Davies, public health consultant for NHS England, added: “Flu can be a very unpleasant illness in children but the flu vaccine is the best protection that is available against this unpredictable virus.”

For more information on the vaccination visit the website at www.healthforkids.co.uk.