As the 2026/27 flu season begins, Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust’s School Age Immunisation Team is encouraging parents and carers to protect their children by ensuring they receive their free flu vaccination.
Latest UK Health Security Agency surveillance data shows that only 55.5% of primary school children received a flu vaccine last winter, despite around 4.5 million children being eligible.
Flu is more than a heavy cold and can cause serious illness, including complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Children are also more likely to spread the virus through close contact at school, clubs and social activities, potentially passing it on to more vulnerable family members.
Vaccination offers the best protection against flu. Evidence from last year’s flu season showed strong vaccine effectiveness among children aged two to 17 years, helping to prevent:
- 52% of GP visits
- 68% of flu-related hospital admissions
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.
Easy online consent
Parents and carers 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.
Families who cannot access email or the internet should contact the immunisation team, who can take consent over the phone or arrange for a paper consent form to be provided.
Missed a school vaccination session?
Children who are home educated, not in mainstream education, or who missed their school vaccination session can still be vaccinated. The immunisation team will be running school-based clinics outside school hours, as well as community clinics across Gloucestershire.
Please complete a consent form whether you wish your child to receive the vaccine or not. If no response is received, the immunisation team will make further contact to ensure the offer of vaccination has been received.
For more information or to book an appointment, contact the School Age Immunisation Team on 0300 421 8140, email ghc.fluimmunisation@nhs.net, or visit: www.ghc.nhs.uk/our-teams-and-services/children-and-young-people/physical-health/school-aged-immunisation-team
