Vaccination and Immunisation Team

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Lifehouse

Summers Road

Liverpool

L3 4BL

Telephone: 0151 295 3833

Dear Parent/Carer,

Your child’s annual flu vaccination is now due.

This vaccination is recommended to help protect your child against flu.

Flu can be an unpleasant illness and sometimes causes serious complications. Vaccinating your child will also help to protect more vulnerable family and friends by preventing the spread of flu.

The vaccination is a quick and simple spray up the nose – it’s also free!  Even if your child had the vaccine last year, we still recommend that they have the flu vaccine again this year. Flu viruses can vary each winter, so it is recommended to have it again this year or they won’t be protected.

A leaflet explaining the vaccination programme is enclosed and includes details about the small number of children for whom the nasal vaccine is not appropriate. The nasal spray vaccine contains a very small amount of purified porcine gelatine as an essential ingredient to keep it stable and able to work. An alternative flu vaccine injection is also available, for those who may not accept medicines or vaccines that contain porcine gelatine.  Since the programme was introduced, most children offered the vaccine in schools have had the immunisation.

Please visit the below link to access further information and complete your child’s consent form, even if you don’t want them to receive their flu spray. As this will avoid further communications from our service: https://econsent.merseycare.nhs.uk/

If you are unable to complete the online form, please contact our team who will be happy to help.

If after completing your child’s form you visit a GP for their flu immunisation or wish to amend their form, you must contact the immunisation team directly and not your child’s school.

Please remember it’s important to ensure your child has received two doses of MMR and their other routine immunisations.  This will ensure they are fully protected against vaccine preventable diseases.

If you have any further queries, please contact the team.

Yours Sincerely

School Immunisation Services