Important message: parental consent request for Childhood Flu Vaccination
Letter below from the School Age immunisation Team, Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Eligibility for The Childhood Flu Vaccination Programme 2021-2022
This vaccination is recommended to help protect your child against flu. Flu can be an unpleasant illness and can cause serious complications. Vaccinating your child will also help protect more vulnerable family and friends by preventing the spread of flu. With COVID-19 still in circulation, it is important to reduce the number of those becoming ill with flu this winter to help protect them, the NHS and social care. Research also shows that if you become unwell with both flu and COVID-19 at the same time you may become seriously ill.
This vaccination is free and is a quick and simple spray up the nose. Even if your child had it last year, it is recommended to have the flu vaccine again this year. If your child has a long-term medical condition they can access this vaccine both at your GP surgery or in school . For those children that cannot have the nasal spray, the injected flu vaccine is recommended.
Some people may not accept the use of porcine gelatine in medical products. The nasal flu vaccination is considered the most appropriate vaccine, however if this is not suitable, there is an alternative injectable porcine free vaccine available this year. This will be an injection, rather than a nasal spray and may need to be given in a clinic setting, rather than school. If you would like your child to receive the alternative vaccination, please tick the relevant box on the consent page of the e-consent form.
For further information see:
Electronic Consent
The School Age Immunisation Team is moving towards paperless vaccination programmes and the use of e-Consent is quick and easy to use, and can be completed on any electronic device:
Click on this link: https://forms.mpft.nhs.uk/ to complete the consent form.
(Note from Winshill Village: your school code will be texted to you within 24 hours of this letter being shared. If you do not receive, or misplace this, please contact the school office)
Please complete the e-consent form by 9am on 22nd November 2021
Your school will tell you the date that your child will have the vaccination; children who do not receive the vaccination at school will be able to have it at one of our community clinics. Information on how to arrange this will be sent to you, following the school vaccination session.
Please ensure that you complete and submit your child’s consent form promptly, whether you wish your child to be immunised or not and only submit one consent form per child. If you have any concerns or would like to discuss further please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Immunisation Team on 0300 1240366 or email school.immunisation@mpft.nhs.uk.
If your child has already received this immunisation via your GP Practice, please contact us at school.immunisation@mpft.nhs.uk or call 0300 124 0366 to advise.
If your child is asthmatic and there are any changes to their health 14 days before the vaccination date YOU MUST contact the immunisation team on 0300 124 0366 as your child may not be well enough to receive the vaccination. These include, if your child:
Becomes wheezy
Has required oral steroids
Has increased their asthma medication
If you have any further questions or need more information, please contact the School Age Immunisation Team rather than the school, on 0300 124 0366.
School Age Immunisation Team
Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Rising Brook Health Centre
Merrey Road
ST17 9LY
0300 124 0366
email: school.immunisation@mpft.nhs.uk; schoolimmunisation.south@nhs.net