Needle-free flu vaccine for Year 7 and Year 8 children

News from our partners NHS England – Shropshire and Staffordshire

Year 7 and Year 8 schoolpupils across the county of Shropshire, including Telford, will be offered a free nasal spray vaccine to protect them from flu.  This immunisation is part of NHS England’s pilot scheme in partnership with Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust.

In preparation for the winter months ahead, the free nasal spray should be available in schools from the end of September 2014.

Flu is a highly contagious illness that spreads rapidly through the coughs and sneezes of people who are carrying the virus.  Immunising all schoolpupils in Year 7 and Year 8 should help stop the spread of the virus through the school, and to friends and family members who may be more vulnerable to its effects.

The “Fluenz” immunisation is a simple, painless nasal spray that protects children against many strains of the flu virus.  The spray has been used safely and effectively in the US for over 10 years, and last year it was introduced in the UK as a way of protecting healthy two- and three-year-olds against the virus.

Neil Adams, Screening and Immunisation Lead (Shropshire and Staffordshire) at NHS England, said:

“Flu is not just a bad cold.  It can increase the risk of developing more serious illnesses, such as bronchitis, pneumonia or a painful ear infection, especially in the young and those with pre-existing medical conditions.  In the worst cases, flu can result in a hospital stay, and it can even kill.

“The vaccine is the best possible protection against the flu virus. Not only is the nasal spray needle-free, it also works even better than the injected flu vaccine with fewer side effects.

“It’s quick and painless and will mean your child is less likely to become ill if they come into contact with the flu virus.”

Carole Hales, Immunisation Manager at Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust, said:

“Flu can be a really serious illness for some, so immunising pupils in Year 7 and Year 8 will help stop it spreading through the school to friends and family members, who may be more vulnerable. This method of delivering the vaccine is simple and painless and protects children against many strains of the flu virus.”

Year 7 and Year 8 pupils in Shropshire and Telford will be amongst the first to benefit from the painless immunisation.  However, it’s expected that the nasal spray will be brought in for all children in the future.

School-based immunisation teams will be responsible for ensuring that the county’s pupils receive the Fluenz nasal spray in school.  It’s not available at local GP practices unless children are already in an at-risk group.

For more on the Fluenz vaccination visit the NHS Choices website.

Further information

• NHS England is the body which leads the NHS in England.  Its main aim is to improve the health outcomes for people in England, and it sets the overall direction and priorities for the NHS as a whole.
• All pupils in Year 7 and Year 8 attending schools in Shropshire and Telford will be offered the immunisation spray by Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust Immunisation Team.  The parents of all Year 7 and Year 8 pupils in participating schools are being contacted this month to provide more details.
• For more information on flu, visit www.nhs.uk/flu.
• For further information, please e-mail media.hub@nmecomms.nhs.uk or ring 07824 463578.