FAQ s for parents. Why is my child being offered the flu vaccine?

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1 FAQ s for parents Who is being offered the flu vaccine? This year all healthy children aged 2 years to 13 years old in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland will be offered a vaccination against flu. Children in school years 1-8 inclusive will be offered the nasal flu vaccine in school. Children aged 2-4 years old will be offered an appointment at their GP surgery. Some children due to their health needs will be offered an appointment at their GP surgery for the flu injection. Why is my child being offered the flu vaccine? Flu is highly infectious and can spread very quickly, making it dangerous for those who are already vulnerable because of their age or medical condition. By vaccinating healthy children against flu they will not only benefit from being protected themselves, but will also reduce the spread of flu and help protect the whole population. This will also help to protect those children and adults who cannot have the vaccine. This includes children under the age of 2 and those with illnesses like severe asthma, who

2 can become very unwell but cannot have the vaccine as it is not suitable. Because this vaccine reduces the amount of flu within the population, there should be fewer demands on doctor and nurses during the busy winter season and fewer days missed from childcare, nursery and school. In turn, this means less worry for parents and less time away from work and other activities, caring for children who are unwell. Is flu a serious disease? Flu can be a life-threatening disease and contributes to many deaths each year, particularly the elderly and those with health needs. Even in healthy people, flu can be extremely serious which can lead to hospital admission, particularly in young children. How will the flu vaccine be administered? The vaccine to be used is a live nasal spray called Fluenz Tetra. This is a small amount of liquid that is sprayed into each nostril. It is needle free, a big advantage for children. Some children may already be used to a nasal spray as many hay fever treatments are administered this way. Why is the nasal spray (Fluenz Tetra ) vaccine being used? The flu virus enters the body through the nose and mouth. Because Fluenz Tetra also enters the body through the nose it mimics the flu virus and results in a better immune response. Fluenz Tetra : Is more effective, Provides protection for longer May offer protection against slightly different types of flu virus

3 Is easier to give and more comfortable to have. How safe is Fluenz Tetra and what are the side effects of having this vaccine? This vaccine is safe and has been used in the UK for the last two years and elsewhere for many years. Most people do not get side effects whilst others may get a few. Common side effects include runny or stuffy nose, reduced appetite, weakness and headache, these normally resolve in 3-5 days. Occasionally some children may develop a fever. When will my child be offered this vaccine? The nasal flu team will be vaccinating children in school from October to December Your school will be advised on the date we will be visiting in advance. The dates can also be found on the website healthforkids. What happens if my child is ill or absent on the day of the vaccination? Children can still be given this vaccination with a minor illness i.e. a cold without a fever. The health care worker who is vaccinating your child can assess this on the day. However if your child is absent on the day they may be able to attend a community clinic setting to receive this vaccination. Further information can be found at healthforkids or by contacting The Childhood Flu Immunisation Team at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust on Tel: or via childhoodfluimms@leicspart.nhs.uk or visit: Can Fluenz Tetra be given if my child has blocked or runny nose? If your child has a mild blocked or runny nose it is still safe for them to have the vaccine. However, heavy nasal congestion will prevent the delivery of the vaccine to the nasal area and therefore the vaccine will not be given.

4 My child has a confirmed egg allergy can they still have this vaccine in school? If your child has a confirmed egg allergy, they will be unable to have this vaccination in school. However they may be eligible to take part in a study called SNIFFLE-2 and have this vaccination in a controlled environment. Please ensure you record this egg allergy on the appropriate section of the consent form. A nurse from the immunisation team will then contact you to ask your permission for a referral to be made to the SNIFFLE-2 study. How will I know if my child has had the nasal flu vaccination or not? Every child will be given a certificate confirming if this vaccine has been given or not. This certificate also contains post vaccination advice for parents. Please help us to evaluate your experience of this vaccination programme by completing the survey link on the certificate. Does Fluenz Tetra contain pork? The nasal flu vaccine does contain gelatine that comes from pork as one of its additives. Gelatine is commonly used in a range of medicines, including many capsules and some other vaccines. The gelatine used in Fluenz Tetra is highly purified and used to stabilise the live vaccine. Many stabilisers were tried out by the manufacturers but this gelatine was chosen because it was the best product. Why can t children of Muslim faith be offered a vaccine not containing gelatine? There is no other live flu vaccine available in Europe that would provide healthy children, and the community, with the same protection this vaccine provides against flu. The European Medicines Agency stringently tested 40

5 potential stabilisers. Gelatine was demonstrated to be the most effective without the gelatine the stability of the nasal vaccine was significantly reduced. What should I do if I still decide I do not want my child to have the nasal flu vaccine due to my personal religious beliefs? Having fully informed yourself of the advantages and disadvantages of having or not having your child vaccinated, the consent decision is yours. If you or your child has any underlying medical conditions that put you at specific risk of flu, please talk to your doctor. Further information can be found at Where can I find further information regarding this vaccine? Visit the NHS Choices website Should you have any questions you can also contact the Childhood Flu Immunisation Team at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust on Tel: or via childhoodfluimms@leicspart.nhs.uk or visit: