Parents urged to get kids flu jabs

Parents in Rutherglen and Cambuslang are being urged to return their children’s flu vaccination consent form as soon as possible to ensure they are protected against flu this winter.

This year’s childhood flu vaccination programme will see over 2,000 schools across Scotland offer the free nasal vaccine to more than 450,000 primary school pupils.

Health professionals are reminding parents of the benefits of the free nasal vaccine as latest figures reveal that over a quarter of the children eligible did not receive the vaccine last year.

Dr Gregor Smith, deputy chief medical officer for Scotland, explained: “Even the healthiest of children can fall seriously ill from flu so that’s why it’s so important that they get their vaccine at school so that we can help prevent the spread of the virus to family, friends and others around them.”

The flu vaccine is offered to children aged 2-11 and consent forms will be sent home to parents in school bags.