06 September 2021
As part of the childhood vaccination programme, children in nurseries, primary and secondary schools across the Island will be offered the annual nasal flu vaccination.
The programme will start in primary schools from Monday 20 September and will be rolled out until Friday 15 October, with parents receiving letters and consent forms from their child's school from Tuesday 7 September. For the full schedule, visit gov.je
The nasal vaccine for children and young people is safe and effective and given as a single dose gently squirted up each nostril. The vaccines are quick and painless as there's no injection involved.
Director of Public Health, Professor Peter Bradley, said: "It is very important that children are vaccinated against flu for several reasons; children are 2 to 3 times more likely to catch flu than adults, and children under 5 are more likely to be admitted to hospital with flu than any other age group.
"When children get flu, their symptoms are more severe, last longer and can lead to complications. Children are also often super-spreaders of flu during the winter, so by vaccinating your child and preventing them from catching flu, you'll also help prevent the spread to vulnerable friends and family, such as grandparents.
"It is also particularly important for children to get protected against flu while COVID is still in circulation; the co-circulation of flu and COVID can often result in confusion between the two as they both have similar symptoms.
"This winter, we expect flu to be a lot more prevalent, given that we did not see a wide circulation of the virus last year, so it is even more important that children get vaccinated to ensure they keep well.
"Nurses from Health and Community Services will be going to schools across the Island and administering a vaccine into each nostril, which is completely painless, and young children often comment that it tickles. The vaccine is the best protection we can offer children against the flu viruses that circulate each year."
Further details on the flu vaccination programme for adults will follow in coming weeks.
gov.je