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Vaccination UK Immunisation

Flu Immunisation 2024/25

You have been sent to this consent website as your child is due to receive their annual nasal flu vaccination.

This year, we are offering all children the quick and painless nasal spray flu vaccine. However there is a pork gelatine free alternative available as an injection. The vaccination is totally free and recommended for all school aged children.

Read more about the nasal flu vaccine for school children here

Please complete the form even if you do not wish your child to receive the vaccination or if they have received it elsewhere.

If you have any questions read our FAQs below.


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Paperless for the planet

We believe in protecting the environment and this is a clear way to reduce the use of paper.

Handling less paper will also reduce risk of infection and makes the process of consent easier for you, your child, schools and our team.

Consent made simple

You will receive a confirmation email when you complete your consent and you will also get a notification of your child’s vaccination status once they have been vaccinated by our team.

Frequently Asked Questions

Check out most frequently asked questions.

Select question category:
  • Can I take my child to the GP for their vaccination?

    Generally all school aged vaccinations are provided by the school immunisation team. The GPs can vaccinate in certain circumstances, but usually only if the child has missed their vaccinations after the school year it was due.

    Occasionally, the team may request that vaccinations are given by the GP if it is thought to be more suitable.

  • What happens if I have missed the 'consent cut off date' but still want my child to be vaccinated?
    Whenever possible the team will provide a second vaccination opportunity, either in school or a community clinic. Please contact the team directly for further information.
  • What if I change my mind about my child having their vaccination after I have submitted consent?
    It is important that you contact the Immunisation Team immediately and speak to a member of staff. We also advise that you contact the school if the vaccination session is planned within the next 72 hours .
  • What if my child does not attend school?
    The team will be happy to see your child in one of our community clinics. Please contact the team to discuss your requirements.
  • What if my child has a medical condition?

    There are very few children that cannot receive their vaccinations.

    However, if your child has a medical condition, it is possible that we will ask you or your child’s GP or consultant for further information to ensure it is safe for them to receive the vaccination at the current time.

  • What if my child is unwell following their vaccination?

    Not everyone gets side effects to the vaccines. If they do experience side effects, these are generally mild and consist of the following, especially if it is the first dose of the vaccine: feeling tired, mild fever, a rash, body aches and soreness at the site of injection.

    If you are worried about your child you can telephone 111 for non-urgent medical advice or contact your GP practice. In an emergency please telephone 999. Further advice can be found at: www.nhs.uk.

    Call 111 for non-urgent medical advice and 999 in an emergency.

    Our team reports any post-vaccination side effects that we are aware of, so please contact the Immunisation Team if you feel that we need to report any reactions experienced by your child.

  • What if my child is unwell on the day of the vaccination?

    Vaccinations can safely be given as long as the child is not systemically unwell.

    If your child is not well enough to attend school, then our team will make arrangements to see them next time we visit. Generally, if they are well enough to be in school, they are usually well enough to be vaccinated.

    However, if your child is recovering from a chronic illness or recent infection, the nurse may decide to defer the vaccination until they are fully recovered. This is to ensure that any subsequent changes in their health are not wrongly attributed to the vaccination.

  • Where can I find out more information about vaccinations?
    You can find further information on the NHS choices website. Alternatively, you can speak to your GP, practice nurse or a member of the immunisation team.
  • Why do you need previous vaccination dates?

    We only ask for this information if it is needed to ensure the correct intervals between vaccinations.

    Please note that we do not have access to your child’s GP records, so we may not be aware of their previous vaccination date unless you advise us.

  • Why are you asking if my child has had 2 doses of MMR?

    Measles is again on the rise across the UK. We are commissioned to offer and provide the MMR vaccine to all children who have not received 2 doses of this already. Therefore, if your child has not had a dose at around 1 year of age and then again at pre-school age, they may not be fully protected. If you are not sure if they have had both doses, please write NO to this answer and our team will be in touch to discuss this and offer your child the vaccine during our visit.

  • Are there any children who shouldn’t have the nasal vaccine?

    You should let us know if your child has any of the following:

    • A very severe allergy to eggs, egg proteins, gentamicin or gelatine – it is important for us to know if your child has been admitted to hospital with a condition called anaphylaxis, triggered by these things.
    • Are currently wheezy or have been wheezy in the past 72 hours with asthma. There is an alternative flu vaccine that we can talk to you about to ensure that your child is protected as soon as possible.
    • Have a condition that severely weakens their immune system.

    Also, children who have been vaccinated should avoid close contact with people with very severely weakened immune systems for around two weeks following vaccination. This is because there’s an extremely remote chance that the vaccine virus may be passed to them.

    Contact with other healthy children or adults does not need to be limited after having the vaccine.

  • Can the vaccine strain of flu be spread to others who have not been vaccinated? (Viral shedding)

    Unvaccinated contacts are not at risk of becoming seriously ill with the weakened flu vaccine virus, either through being in the same room where flu vaccine has been given, or by being in contact with a recently vaccinated pupil. No ‘mist’ of vaccine virus escapes into the air and therefore, there is no need for any child or staff member to be excluded from school during the period when the vaccine is being offered or in the following days.

    The tiny number of children who are extremely immunocompromised (for example those who have just had a bone marrow transplant), are already advised not to attend school because of the much higher risk of contact with other infections that spread in schools. Although vaccinated children do shed vaccine virus for a few days after vaccination, the virus is less able to spread from person to person than the natural infection.

    The amount of virus shed is normally below that needed to spread infection to others and the virus does not survive for long outside of the body. This is in contrast to natural flu infection, which spreads easily during the flu season. In schools where vaccine is being offered therefore, the overall risk of contact with influenza viruses is massively reduced by having most children vaccinated.

  • Are there any side-effects of the vaccine?
    Possible side effects are: decreased appetite, headache, a runny or blocked nose, or a mild temperature. These are common, but they pass quickly and can be treated with paracetamol or ibuprofen if you feel your child needs it. These are more common with the first ever dose of flu vaccine and should reduce with doses in the following years.
  • Can my child have the injected vaccine that doesn’t contain gelatine?

    If you do not wish for your child to receive the nasal flu vaccine due to the porcine gelatin content, your child can be offered an injectable vaccine which is free of this.

    If your child is at high risk from flu due to one or more medical conditions or treatments and can’t have the nasal flu vaccine they should have the flu vaccine by injection.

  • Can the vaccine cause flu?
    No, the vaccine cannot cause flu because the viruses in it have been weakened to prevent this from happening.
  • 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 against flu.
  • 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 vaccine is absorbed quickly in the nose so, even if your child sneezes immediately after having had the spray, there’s no need to worry that it hasn’t worked.

  • How will the vaccine be given?
    For most children, it is given as a squirt up the nose. It can also be given as an injection.
  • What are the benefits of the 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 young to be vaccinated, getting flu from your child.

  • 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.
  • 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 usual flu symptoms, and may need to go to hospital for treatment. Serious complications of flu include a painful ear infection, acute bronchitis, and pneumonia.

  • Do I get a copy of my consent form?
    Once you have submitted the consent you will receive an email to let you know we have received it. Please check your spam/junk folder if you don't receive it.
  • How do I raise a technical support request?
    Please email us on support@riviam.zendesk.com. Please don't put any personal details in as this email is not for clinical issues.
  • What if I require the information in a different format?
    Please contact the immunisation team who will be able to assist.

Get in touch for more answers

If you still have questions about our service or immunisations, please get in touch with us using the information below.

Email us using Walsall@v-uk.co.uk

Vaccination UK Immunisation

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