From October 2020 all children in years Reception,1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 will be offered the flu vaccination. (Please note that in special educational needs schools, the vaccination will be offered to children up to and including 17 years old).
The vaccine is given as a simple spray up the nose. It is painless, quick, and serious side effects are uncommon. It is designed to protect your child against flu which can be an unpleasant illness and, although rarely may cause serious complications. The flu vaccine provides protection against the strains that are predicted to circulate in the coming season. These strains may change from year to year which is why we recommend receiving the vaccination every year.
Further information can be found at the Public Health England website
www.nhs.uk/child-flu . This information includes details about children for whom the nasal spray is not appropriate.
Please complete the consent form (one for each child, please) using the following link https://saint.sompar.nhs.uk/flu/2020/west as soon as possible, this link will close at least one week prior to the session date. If you are unable to access the online consent form for any reason please contact Somerset SAINT for assistance.
Please complete the consent form even if you do not consent to the vaccination.
If your child is not in mainstream education or is home educated then please contact Somerset SAINT on the above number to book into one of our community-based sessions.
The consent form can only completed by someone with parental responsibility, if you have any queries about whether or not you hold parental responsibility and are therefore able to complete the consent form please contact the immunisation team on the above number.
There is an expectation that the immunisation team will only visit your child’s school once during this programme, although community based catch up sessions for children will be offered at the end of 2020/early 2021.
If your child becomes wheezy or has, their asthma medications increased just before or on the day of the vaccination session, please inform the Immunisation team on the day.
Yours sincerely
Somerset SAINT
To demonstrate how school based flu sessions will look during these uncertain times please follow the link https://youtu.be/cdqeuH97_aU