Protect your children from flu

Get your child vaccinated against flu this winter, for young children the vaccine is given as a quick, painless nasal spray

Parents in the Rochdale Borough are being encouraged to protect their children with a free flu vaccination, available to those in school years one and two.

This initiative, running until the end of December 2015, is delivered by trained nurses from the Immunisation Team, run by Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust.

The vaccines are quick and pain-free, in the form of a nasal spray, and will be provided in schools to those who have parental consent.

Parents have been sent a letter, via their child, with an enclosed vaccination consent form to be completed. It can be returned using the pre-paid envelope provided.

Flu is very easily spread and causes a number of symptoms, including fever, headaches, tiredness, weakness and general aches. In some cases these can lead to severe complications, infections and even death.

Kellie Holt, Children’s Integrated Locality Health Manager, said: “Flu can be an unpleasant illness for children. These vaccines are vital to protecting children and also reducing the spread to families and the wider community.”

“This means protecting young siblings, grandparents and others who have a high risk of being seriously ill from flu.”

Children who were between the ages of two and four on 31 August 2015 can still have their flu vaccine at their GP.