28k pupils to be offered nasal vaccine as nurses go on assault against flu

It follows on from the success of a 2013 pilot across Northern Ireland, which went extremely well with uptake at 80 per cent.

Irene McSorley, Western Trust Team Leader for School Nursing said: “The Trust’s School Nursing Service will be implementing the second phase of the Fluenz programme to all primary school children in the Western Trust area.

“Parents of primary school children should look out for letters and consent forms over the next couple of months as children should be bringing them home in their school bags.

“It is important that consent forms are completed, signed and returned so that your child can be protected with the vaccine.”

She added: “The School Nursing Team will be visiting 187 primary schools across the Trust during the coming months to offer all children in P1 – P7 the Fluenz Tetra® vaccine (nasal spray).

“For medical reasons a very small number of children will not be able to receive Fluenz Tetra® and they will be given a different flu vaccine by injection instead.

“This will mean that 28,100 pupils will be better protected against flu bringing both health benefits and less time off school.”

She continued: “The 2014 vaccine programme will start on the October 1, 2014 and the aim is to have it finished by the end of November 2014 to ensure children are protected before the flu virus starts circulating.”