Flu
Why should my child have the flu vaccine?
Flu can be a very unpleasant illness in children. It can last several days or more; causing fever, stuffy nose, dry cough, sore throat, aching muscles and joints, and extreme tiredness. Some children can get a very high fever, sometimes without the ...
Why do children need a Flu vaccination every year?
The flu vaccine changes every winter to match the different type of flu circulating each year. For this reason, we recommend that your child is vaccinated against flu again this year, even if vaccinated last year.
What are the benefits of the flu vaccine?
Having the vaccine will help protect your child from catching flu. It will also reduce the chance of others in your family, who could be at greater risk from flu, such as grandparents, those with long term health conditions, or siblings that are too ...
How will the flu vaccine be given?
It is given as a nasal spray into both nostrils.
How does the nasal spray work?
The nasal spray contains viruses that have been weakened to prevent them from causing flu but will help your child to build up immunity. When your child comes into contact with flu viruses they will be better able to fight off the infection. The ...
Does the nasal vaccine contain gelatine derived from pigs (porcine gelatine)?
Yes. The nasal vaccine contains a highly processed form of gelatine (porcine gelatine), which is used in a range of many essential medicines. The gelatine helps to keep the vaccine viruses stable so that the vaccine provides the best protection ...
Can the vaccine cause flu?
No, the vaccine cannot cause flu because the viruses in it have been weakened to prevent this from happening.
Can my child have the injected vaccine that doesn’t contain gelatine?
Some faith groups accept the use of porcine gelatine in medical products. For further information about porcine gelatine and the nasal flu vaccine, see www.nhs.uk/child-flu We are offering families that do not wish to have the nasal spray because of ...
Are there any side-effects of the vaccine?
All vaccines can cause side effects but studies suggest they are generally mild and soon settle. However, these are much less serious than developing flu or complications associated with flu. Some people may experience: Nasal Flu vaccine side ...
Are there any children who shouldn’t have the nasal vaccine?
Children who should not have the nasal vaccine include those: - who are currently wheezy or have been wheezy in the past three days (vaccination should be delayed until at least three days after the wheezing has stopped). - are severely asthmatic, ...