NHS urges parents to take urgent action before school starts

The NHS has issued an alert to parents to take urgent action before the new school term starts by completing their child's flu vaccine consent form. In a reminder shared on X, the health service emphasised that this quick and easy task is vital to help protect children from becoming seriously unwell with flu, and to stop other kids from getting ill too.

The children's flu vaccine is typically administered as a quick, painless nasal spray with one dose in each nostril. For children who are unable to have the nasal spray, for example, due to certain medical or dietary reasons, an alternative flu vaccine is available as a small injection in the upper arm or thigh. Both types of vaccine provide effective protection against flu, it explained.

With pupils spending much of their time in close contact with classmates, schools can quickly become hotspots for infections such as colds and flu. In its post on X, the NHS wrote: "Before school starts again, take a minute to complete your child's flu vaccine consent form.

"The nasal spray flu vaccine helps protect children from getting seriously ill, and helps stop flu spreading in classrooms and at home." Directing people to their page, Children's flu vaccine on the NHS website, it further noted that this is something that's offered to "children aged 2 to 3 years, school-aged children (Reception to Year 11) and children with certain long-term health conditions."

NHS warning for people who do not take the vaccine

If you decide your child is not going to have the vaccine, the NHS stated that if your child gets the flu, it can be "very unpleasant" and sadly, it could cause "serious problems such as pneumonia."

It stresses: "Each winter in the UK, thousands of children who do not have a health condition need hospital care because of flu. Children can catch and spread flu easily. Vaccinating them also helps protect others who are at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu, such as babies, anyone who's pregnant and older people."

Who should have the children's flu vaccine?

The NHS said the vaccine is recommended for:

• children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2025 (born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2023)
• school-aged children (Reception to Year 11)
• children aged 6 months to 17 years with certain long-term health conditions

It's important for children with certain long-term health conditions to have the flu vaccine every year. This includes children aged 6 months to 17 years who have:

• conditions that affect their breathing, such as asthma (needing a steroid inhaler or tablets) or cystic fibrosis
• had a lung or airways infection in the past that meant they needed to stay overnight in the hospital
• serious heart conditions
• kidney or liver disease
• some conditions that affect their brain or nerves, such as cerebral palsy
• diabetes
• a weakened immune system due to a condition or treatment, such as HIV or AIDS, chemotherapy or steroid medicine
• problems with their spleen, such as sickle cell disease, or if they've had their spleen removed
• a learning disability

Can my kid have the children's flu vaccine?

The health service noted that whilst the majority of kids should be able to get it, there are people who may not be able to have it. This means children may be offered the injected flu vaccine if they:

• are under 2 years of age
• have had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of the nasal spray vaccine
• have had a serious allergic reaction to an ingredient in the nasal spray vaccine, including gelatine, neomycin or gentamicin
• have a severe egg allergy that requires intensive care hospital treatment
• have a severely weakened immune system, or live with someone who has a severely weakened immune system (for example, someone who has had a bone marrow transplant)
• have asthma that's being treated with long-term steroid tablets or has needed intensive care treatment in hospital
• have had a flare-up of asthma symptoms in the past 72 hours, including wheezing or needing to use a reliever inhaler more than usual
• are having salicylate therapy

It reminded parents: "If you think your child may need the injected flu vaccine you can speak to your GP, practice nurse or the school immunisation team."

Are there any side effects of the children's flu vaccine?

Side effects of the nasal spray flu vaccine can include:

• a blocked or runny nose
• loss of appetite
• feeling tired
• a headache

Side effects of the flu vaccine injection can include:

• pain or soreness where the injection was given
• a slightly raised temperature
• an aching body

Discussing the "more serious side effects" it noted that your child could have a "severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)" however, these are "very rare". However, if this does happen, it reassured parents that "the person who vaccinates your child will be trained to deal with allergic reactions and treat them immediately."

You can check out the Children's flu vaccine page on the official NHS website here to see how to get the vaccine, how it works and its ingredients.