Look out for your child’s flu consent form!
Published on 6 September 2023
Parents and carers of primary school children across the Western Isles are being asked to ensure they sign and return consent forms for the flu immunisation.
Consent packs are currently being sent home in children’s schoolbags, and NHS Western Isles is urging parents and carers to ensure these are returned as soon as possible. School vaccinations are due to begin from the week beginning September 18.
Packs will shortly be issued to secondary school pupils, who can self-consent, though they are encouraged to speak to a parent or carer first.
NHS Western Isles is encouraging parents and carers to help keep children healthy over the school terms this winter by getting them vaccinated against flu.
Flu can be serious. Even healthy children can become seriously ill with flu. That’s why the flu vaccine is offered to all pre-school children aged 2 years or over and all primary and secondary school children in Scotland. The vaccine is given in schools as a painless nasal spray (for the majority of children).
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 to vulnerable family members.
For those aged 2- 5 (not yet in school) vaccination will be offered at children’s nurseries; where this is not suitable, alternative clinics will be arranged and appointments will be allocated.
The nasal spray is a quick and painless way of delivering the flu vaccine to children and should start to provide protection within 10-14 days.
“Flu can be serious, even for healthy children, so the vaccine offers the best possible protection for your child and those around them who may be more vulnerable to flu. Getting your child vaccinated can help prevent them getting sick, from spreading flu, and requiring time off school and away from other activities.”
“Please look out for your child’s consent pack, which they will receive through school, and ensure that their completed consent form is returned as soon as possible.”
School children will receive the flu vaccine in school from September. 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.
For more information about the flu vaccine, visit www.nhsinform.scot/childflu
Look out for your child’s flu consent form!
Parents and carers of primary school children across the Western Isles are being asked to ensure they sign and return consent forms for the flu immunisation.
Consent packs are currently being sent home in children’s schoolbags, and NHS Western Isles is urging parents and carers to ensure these are returned as soon as possible. School vaccinations are due to begin from the week beginning September 18.
Packs will shortly be issued to secondary school pupils, who can self-consent, though they are encouraged to speak to a parent or carer first.
NHS Western Isles is encouraging parents and carers to help keep children healthy over the school terms this winter by getting them vaccinated against flu.
Flu can be serious. Even healthy children can become seriously ill with flu. That’s why the flu vaccine is offered to all pre-school children aged 2 years or over and all primary and secondary school children in Scotland. The vaccine is given in schools as a painless nasal spray (for the majority of children).
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 to vulnerable family members.
For those aged 2- 5 (not yet in school) vaccination will be offered at children’s nurseries; where this is not suitable, alternative clinics will be arranged and appointments will be allocated.
The nasal spray is a quick and painless way of delivering the flu vaccine to children and should start to provide protection within 10-14 days.
“Flu can be serious, even for healthy children, so the vaccine offers the best possible protection for your child and those around them who may be more vulnerable to flu. Getting your child vaccinated can help prevent them getting sick, from spreading flu, and requiring time off school and away from other activities.”
“Please look out for your child’s consent pack, which they will receive through school, and ensure that their completed consent form is returned as soon as possible.”
School children will receive the flu vaccine in school from September. 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.
For more information about the flu vaccine, visit www.nhsinform.scot/childflu
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