Protecting your child against Flu 2022 (Nasal Flu vaccine)

What are the benefits of the vaccine?

Having the vaccine will help protect the child from what can be a very nasty illness and reduce the chance of others in their family and friends from getting it.

What vaccine is being offered?

Children will be offered Fluenz Tetra, a nasal spray. It is quick and painless to administer and since it does not require an injection, it is more acceptable to children and parents alike.

Is the vaccine safe?

The vaccine has an excellent safety record and has been used for over ten years in the USA without any serious concerns and, of course, it has been used since 2013/14 in the UK where hundreds of thousands of children have been successfully vaccinated.

Are there any children who shouldn’t have the nasal vaccine?

Children should not have the nasal vaccine if they have the following symptoms / conditions:

• are currently wheezy or have been wheezy in the past week (vaccination should be delayed until at least seven days after the wheezing has stopped)
• are severely Asthmatic, ie being treated with oral steroids or high dose inhaled steroids
• are allergic to Eggs or any part of the vaccine* or Gentamicin, Latex, Gelatin, Sucrose, Dibasic potassium phosphate, Monobasic potassium phosphate, Arginine hydrochloride, Monosodium glutamate monohydrate and water for injection
• have a condition that severely weakens their immune system
• Is currently on Salicylate therapy (eg Aspirin) and not be given for 4 weeks following vaccination
• Is currently taking flu antivirals (can receive vaccine after 48 hours of flu antivirals being stopped)
• Recently had or going to have their MMR vaccine – needs to be at least 4 weeks apart

Also, children who have been vaccinated should avoid close contact with people with very severely weakened immune systems for around two weeks following vaccination because there’s an extremely remote chance that the vaccine virus may be passed to them. Alternatively, your child may be able to have an injected vaccine instead.

Are there any side-effects of the vaccine?

Side effects are uncommon but may include a runny or blocked nose, headache, general tiredness and some loss of appetite.

Less common – Fever and muscle aches.

Uncommon – Rash, nose bleed or an allergic reaction.

For more information and the Patient Information Leaflet for the Nasal Flu Vaccine please follow link:

• https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/3296/pil

For more information on child flu vaccines please follow link:

• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/child-flu-vaccine/