Don’t forget to return your child’s flu consent form!

Consent forms for the flu immunisation vaccine should have been sent home in children’s schoolbags since the return to school. Parents and carers are being encouraged to sign and return the forms to the school as soon as possible.

NHS Western Isles is asking that parents and carers return the forms even if you do not give consent. This will allow us to accurately update the systems.

School vaccinations are due to start towards the end of September. NHS Western Isles is encouraging parents and carers to keep children healthy over the winter months by getting them vaccinated against flu.

Flu can be serious. Even healthy children can become seriously ill with flu. That’s why it is so important to take the flu vaccine when it is offered. The flu vaccine is offered to all pre-school children aged 2 years or over and all primary and secondary aged school children.

For most children, the vaccination will be given in school as a nasal spray. It is a quick and painless way of delivering the flu vaccine to children and it should start to provide protection within 10-14 days.

In a small number of cases, the nasal spray may not be suitable, and the vaccine can be given as an injection in the arm instead. The team will contact parents and carers to arrange alternative appointments if this is the case.

Getting children vaccinated against flu reduces the chances of them missing class time and other activities due to illness and helps prevent them passing the illness on to vulnerable family members.

To find out more about the flu vaccine, visit: https://www.nhsinform.scot/childflu