The roll out of the Influenza Nasal Spray Vaccine programme to school age children in school years 1 and 2 from Autumn 2015

The healthy child nasal spray vaccine programme was introduced to the UK in 2013, adding to the existing Influenza vaccine programme which focuses upon “at risk” cohorts.  This programme began in 2013 with young children age two and three years old, last season, 2014, the four year olds were also included.  The coming flu immunisation season, autumn 2015, will include a further extension, which will include children: age 5 years to age 7 years, i.e. school years 1 and 2.

The programme is being introduced to reduce flu illness in the community, by: directly protecting children and indirectly reducing the levels of transmission of the Flu virus and infection. This will assist with the protection of vulnerable contacts of children, such as: pregnant women, those with individual at risk conditions such as: chronic disease and reduced immunity and the elderly.

Subsequent years will see the programme gradually extend to include all primary school age children.

Delivery of this programme for 2015:

Children age two, three and four years of age, including the reception age children: will be invited by their GP to receive the immunisation at their GP practice.

Children age 5 years to 7 years, (school years one and two): national pilots have demonstrated that a school based delivery model provides equity of access.  Therefore NHSE is commissioning this service to be delivered in the school setting.

Flu leaflet