Flu Vaccination for Primary School Children

Public Health

South (South Central)

NHS England

Bewley House

Marshfield Road

Chippenham

SN15 1JW

June 2017

Dear Head teacher

Flu vaccination for primary school children

We are writing to inform you of an exciting new development in relation to the health of the children in your school. From September 2017, the school immunisation team will be delivering the flu vaccine to all eligible children attending Gloucestershire primary schools, for the 2017/18 season eligible children for flu vaccine will include those in reception to year 4. This will ensure Gloucestershire is in line with national guidance to deliver the flu vaccination within the school setting where uptake rates are the highest.

Over the last two years, schools across the country have supported the delivery of flu vaccination for primary school aged children in specified year groups by hosting vaccination sessions for their children. This is part of a programme designed to provide both individual protection to children who receive the vaccine and prevent the spread of flu to their family and community. Evidence has shown the flu vaccination has a direct impact in reducing school absences, GP consultations and circulation of the virus amongst the whole school community, including staff.

Since the introduction of the children’s flu programme in 2013 vaccinations have been offered by Gloucestershire GPs, however the evidence shows that offering vaccination through schools is the most effective route to deliver vaccinations to school-aged children. School delivered programmes in Bath and North East Somerset (BANES) and Wiltshire last year showed an average uptake of 70% compared to 34% for GP delivery in Swindon and Gloucestershire. The vaccine is administered via a nasal spray and has been well received in BANES and Wiltshire schools.

Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust has been commissioned by NHS England to deliver the flu vaccination programme in Gloucestershire schools; Gloucestershire Care Services has extensive experience of delivering children’s services on behalf of the NHS. A member of the Gloucestershire Care Services immunisation team will be in touch shortly to provide more detail on the programme and discuss clinic arrangements with you. It is anticipated the vaccination clinics will run in schools from October 2017.

We have no doubt that you will work with Gloucestershire Care Services, to ensure the delivery of this important public health programme which will benefit the children, school and the wider community.

Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about the programme and you can also download the information leaflet from the link below.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flu-vaccination-in-schools

Please do contact the NHS England Public Health Commissioning team by email if you have any queries about the flu vaccination programme:

Yours sincerely

Immunising primary school children against flu

Background to the programme

From October 2017, all children in reception and school years 1, 2 3 and 4 age in England will be offered flu vaccination in the form of a nasal spray. In general practice, all 2 and 3 year olds will also be offered flu immunisation across the country.

Flu can be a very unpleasant illness in children. Annual immunisation will not only provide important protection to individual children but will also reduce the spread of flu to their families and the wider community, protecting younger siblings, grandparents and others who are at increased risk of becoming seriously ill from flu.

There is also some evidence to suggest that vaccinating children will have a positive impact on school absenteeism, improving the educational opportunities of children.

This extension of the national flu immunisation programme to children of school age is part of a phased roll-out of flu immunisation to children. It is based on the advice from an independent expert committee, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) that advises the Government on vaccination policies.

What implications does the programme have for our school? Gloucestershire Care Services will work with each school to develop and agree the best approach for implementing the programme in your school. The more time that is given to planning, the more likely it is that the programme will run smoothly.

When do the vaccinations need to be given? To be effective, vaccinations need to be given between October and December (preferably before flu starts circulating). As flu viruses can change, vaccines are made each year to provide protection against the predicted circulating flu viruses; hence the vaccine needs to be given on an annual basis.

What will schools be asked to do? Agree a date for the vaccination session and provide a suitable location for the immunisation to take place (e.g. school hall or classroom). Also agree a process for providing parents with the invitation letter, information leaflet and consent form.

Where can I get further information? Further updates on the national flu immunisation programme, including the extension of the programme to children, will be added to the Public Health England website in the lead up to the 2017/18 flu season at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/annual-flu-programme#2017-to-2018-flu-season

For more information on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation see: www.gov.uk/government/groups/joint-committee-on-vaccination-and-immunisation

High quality care for all, now and for future generations