A TEAM at Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust is encouraging parents and carers to ensure their children receive a free flu vaccination.

The Trust’s School Age Immunisation Team issued the advice ahead of this year’s flu season - an illness which can cause serious illness and complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia.

Latest UK Health Security Agency surveillance data shows that only 55.5 per cent of primary school children received a flu vaccine last winter, despite around 4.5 million children being eligible.

Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust said: “The flu vaccine is safe, effective and free. It is offered as a quick and simple nasal spray to all children from Reception to Year 11, including those who are home educated or attend special education settings.

“Children who cannot receive the nasal spray because of a medical condition or treatment will be offered an injectable vaccine. An alternative injectable vaccine is also available for those who do not accept the use of porcine gelatine in medical products. Parents and carers can contact the immunisation team to discuss the options available.”

Parents and carers can consent in a number of ways. They will receive an email or text message from their child’s school containing a link to an online consent form and a unique school code ahead of the vaccination session.

Alternatively, families who cannot access email or the internet can contact the immunisation team, who can take consent over the phone or arrange a paper consent form.

The immunisation team will also be running school-based clinics outside school hours, as well as community clinics across Gloucestershire.

For more information or to book an appointment, you can contact the School Age Immunisation Team on 0300 421 8140 or email [email protected].

You can also find more information via the Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust website.