Getting flu is horrible! It can cause a fever, a blocked nose, a sore throat, aches and tiredness. In the most serious cases, it can cause bronchitis and pneumonia.

The nasal spray vaccine is the best defence children have against flu. It’s free, safe and painless too!

Children are ‘super spreaders’ of flu , so help protect you and your family. You will be offered a free nasal spray at school. No nasty needles, it is just a squirt up the nose. The free vaccine helps to protect you and reduces the chance of flu spreading to your friends and family.

In the autumn/winter of 2026 to 2027, the vaccine will be available free on the NHS for eligible children, including:

• Children aged 2 or 3 on 31 August 2026
• All primary school children (reception to year 6)
• All secondary school children (year 7 to 11)
• Children aged 6 months to 17 years with long-term health conditions

The vaccine is usually administered in schools from September. Any child who misses their flu vaccination at school can still get it for free, please contact the school for further details.

Please contact your school to find out when flu vaccinations are being planned or contact Vaccination UK.

Vaccinations for children aged two and three are delivered at GP surgeries, and parents and guardians are encouraged to contact their GP as soon as possible to arrange this.

Grown ups info

Every winter up to 14,000 people in England and Wales die because of flu, but you can protect yourself. There’s a free flu vaccination for people most at risk. As the virus changes each year, it’s important to have the flu vaccine every 12 months.

It is predicted that this year may be a harder winter and many people may get the flu and infections may begin earlier.  Therefore when called please go and get your flu vaccine.

The FREE nasal spray vaccine is the best defence children have against flu. Here are five great reasons why your child should join the Flu Fighters – and help defeat Chilly, Achy and Snotty and their friends.

See the following document for some flu vaccine myth busters.

Please follow this link to access the poster that Vaccination UK developed called 5 reasons to vaccinate your child against flu.

Porcine information for parents is available by clicking on the below:

• Porcine information for parents
• Porcine information for parents in Arabic
• Porcine information for parents in Urdu
• Porcine information for parents in Bengali

Children whose parents decline LAIV

If you’re the parent of an eligible child and decline the LAIV because of its porcine gelatine content (and understand that it is the most effective product in the programme), you can request an alternative injectable vaccine via their GP.

Pharmacies offering the flu vaccine for 2 and 3 year olds