Millions more school kids will qualify for free flu vaccines this winter – is your child affected?
FLU vaccines are set to be offered to all secondary schoolchildren from September.
The Government has confirmed more than 3million 11- to 16-year-olds in England will be offered a dose from a nasal spray.
Over-65s, people in clinical risk groups and pregnant women were among the eligible groups for the rollout announced earlier this year.
Ministers say expanding it to pupils from Year 7 to 11 could give another layer of protection to more vulnerable people as well.
Health minister Maria Caulfield said: “Expanding the offer of flu vaccination to all secondary school pupils this winter will provide millions of young people with extra protection.
“Importantly, this will also reduce the risk of transmission to more vulnerable groups, including the elderly, reducing hospitalisations and freeing up bed capacity across the NHS.
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“Last winter we saw the devastating impact this illness can have, so it is important all pupils take up the offer of the flu vaccine to protect themselves and their loved ones.”
Secondary school children were offered a flu jab as a “temporary measure” last year when experts feared a post-Covid lockdown flu surge was looming.
A record 20million jabs were dished out, out of 33million people who were offered them, with The Sun’s Do The Double campaign encouraging eligible people to come forward.
The NHS saw the worst winter flu outbreak in a decade during the winter and experts blamed previous lockdowns for lowering people’s immunity to the bug.
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Concerns have been raised about another wave of infections this year, with Australia — which is normally used as a benchmark to predict trends — seeing skyhigh cases.
Along with secondary schoolkids, all children aged two or three on 31 August 31 and primary school aged children will be eligible for a dose from September 1.
NHS director of vaccinations and screening Steve Russell said: “Last winter we saw how quickly flu can spread within communities.
“So I’m pleased to see the flu vaccination offer being extended to secondary school children in the autumn term.
“The vaccine offers vital protection against flu which can cause nasty symptoms.
“I would urge all young people and parents to make sure they join millions of others who get vaccinated each year to take up the offer when they can.
“It’s quick, easy and offered in schools, so there’s really no reason to delay when you receive the offer.”
Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at the UK Health Security Agency, said: “Getting the flu vaccine offers the best protection against the virus.
“Last year we saw some teenagers hospitalised with flu.
“Expanding the vaccination to secondary school pupils will help to reduce flu from being spread, protecting their friends and family and easing the burden on the NHS.”
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Schools minister Nick Gibb said: “Following the disruption caused by the pandemic, it’s important that children are able to attend school as much as possible.
“We know that school attendance levels drop over the winter months due to illness, which is why today’s announcement will not only protect children’s health but also their education.”