Nurses at Oxford Health are on a mission to vaccinate 56,000 primary school children in Oxfordshire to protect them from the flu.

Between now and January every youngster from reception up to and including Year 6 in 270 schools can get protection via a nasal spray, all delivered by the Trust’s Immunisation Team in conjunction with the school nursing service.

Children can be super-spreaders of flu and getting the virus can have a big impact on family life, with days needed in bed to recover. Flu can lead to serious complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia.

Symptoms are worse than a normal cold and include:

• Fever
• chills
• aching muscles and joints
• headaches
• extreme tiredness.

Symptoms can also include a stuffy nose, dry cough and sore throat.

For children with specific long-term medical conditions (chronic respiratory, heart, kidney, liver or neurological disease; diabetes; immuno-suppression; or no fully working spleen) getting flu can be even more serious as it’s likely to make their medical condition much worse.

Everything you want to know about the immunisation programme is now available on the Trust’s website https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/school-health-nurses/immunisations/flu-immunisations/

• It includes the most up to date list of clinics. Find your child’s school clinic here
• Guides on what you need to do including the online consent form which will be sent to you by your child’s school
• How you make contact with the school nursing team?
• What if your child is ill?
• What if you child misses their immunisation?
• A host of FAQs