On Wednesday, our pupils were offered  a flu vaccination by the NHS school aged immunisation service. Most children are offered a nasal spray flu vaccine. Schools support with this in hosting vaccination sessions.

Delivering the programme through schools makes it more accessible to pupils, which results in higher uptake levels.

Flu is an unpredictable virus that can kill thousands of people during a flu season. The flu vaccine is the best defence we have against it. Vaccination of children is based on the recommendation of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the independent expert advisory group that advises the Government on vaccination.

The benefits include protection against flu for the children who receive the vaccine and reduced transmission of flu in the community. This is because children play a key role in the transmission of flu, including to those who may be at higher risk from the complications from flu such as the elderly.

Any pupils who miss the session at school will be provided with further opportunities to get the vaccine (which may be at an alternative venue). The school aged immunisation service will be able to provide further details.