Dear Parent/Guardian,
This vaccination is recommended to help protect your child against flu. Flu can be an unpleasant illness and can cause serious complications. Vaccinating your child will also help protect more vulnerable family and friends by preventing the spread of flu. With COVID-19 still in circulation it is important to reduce the number of those becoming ill with flu this winter to help protect them, the NHS and social care. Research also shows that if you get both flu and COVID-19 at the same time you may be more seriously ill.
Please follow the link to complete an online consent form (one for each child) to ensure your child receives their vaccination.
https://sav.hrch.nhs.uk/flu/2022/southwark
The vaccination is free and is a quick, simple and painless spray up the nose. Even if your child had the vaccine last year, the type of flu can vary each winter, so it is recommended to have it again this year or they won’t be protected. A leaflet explaining the vaccination programme is enclosed and includes details about the small number of children for whom the nasal vaccine is not appropriate. The healthcare team and school will follow guidelines to ensure children are safe when being offered the vaccine. Since the programme was introduced, most children offered the vaccine in schools have had the immunisation.